AFL 2021: Follow the latest injury news ahead of Round 21

After being forced into ICU after suffering a lacerated kidney, Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has provided an update in his first public statement since the injury.

Kyle Langford of the Bombers celebrates a goal. Picture: Getty Images

Tigers champion Dustin Martin has broken his silence on a season-ending kidney injury that landed him in intensive care.

The Brownlow medallist says he plans to return home soon after spending more than a week in a Gold Coast hospital.

It’s the first public statement Martin has made since he lacerated his kidney in an accidental clash with Mitch Robinson in the Round 18 clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.

The 30-year-old spent nine days in hospital and has been receiving ongoing medical assessment in Queensland which stopped him from returning to Melbourne.

Martin posted a message to fans, saying: “Hey Tiger Army, thanks so much for all your well wishes over the last couple of weeks … I really appreciate it.

“I’m on the mend, I am hoping to get home soon so I can get back into the club and support the boys.”

The three-time premiership player and triple Norm Smith Medal winner has been in significant pain in the past few weeks and won’t be allowed to participate in contact training for at least three months.

But the Tigers are confident Martin will make a full recovery for 2022.

The Tigers are confident Dustin Martin will be back for the start of 2022. Picture: Michael Klein

Savage double blow to Saints’ finals chances

St Kilda veteran Paddy Ryder could miss the rest of the AFL season as he battles an Achilles problem in what would be a hammer blow to the Saints’ hopes of making the finals.

Ryder, 33, missed last week’s deflating loss to Carlton and has been ruled out for Saturday night’s clash against Sydney at Marvel Stadium, where a win is crucial to keeping finals hopes alive.

Jack Billings, who is out of contract at the end of the season, may also not get back in 2021 after injuring his hamstring.

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Now sitting 13th on the ladder after the horror loss to the Blues, the Saints need to win all three of their remaining games to be any chance of featuring in the finals for a second-straight year.

Ryder would be a big weapon in that fight, but St Kilda coach Brett Ratten conceded the availability of the ruckman, who has played 12 games this season, was a “week-by-week” proposition.

“He rolled in this morning and it hasn’t progressed to where we want it, so there’s no use pushing the envelope with it,” Ratten said on Thursday.

“We’ll give him the week off and see if we can get him right for the following week.”

Defender Jack Sinclair, who has enjoyed a breakout season, will return against the Swans, as will Daniel McKenzie from a concussion.

But Dougal Howard (hamstring) and Hunter Clark (concussion) will miss again.

Paddy Ryder will miss St Kilda’s clash against Sydney.

Cats make call on goalkicker’s return date

Geelong will resist the temptation to play champion forward Jeremy Cameron this week despite the recent progress he has made with his recovery from a hamstring strain.

Cameron has not played since he suffered the setback – his third hamstring injury since joining the Cats – in his team’s Round 16 defeat of Essendon.

“He knows he is not playing and he has known for some time,” coach Chris Scott said ahead of Friday night’s clash against Greater Western Sydney.

Scott said Cameron was likely to play next week against St Kilda.

We have been quite clear about that with his rehab and there has never been any suggestion from our end that he would play this week,” he said.

“The only area where there has been some room for confusion is the people who have watched him on track because he has been performing really well.”

Jeremy Cameron will miss another week with injury. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Scott revealed defensive trio Lachie Henderson, Mark O’Connor and Tom Atkins were unlikely to be right to take on GWS this Friday night after missing the clash against North Melbourne last week, meaning Nathan Kreuger and Zach Guthrie should be able to further stake their claims on a spot in the side ahead of finals.

Gryan Miers, who fractured his leg against Richmond last month, will also miss but is out of his moon boot and running again as he eyes a return for finals.

Hawks veteran pushing to play in Clarko’s farewell

Essendon has been dealt a double injury blow ahead of the clash against the Bulldogs with Kyle Langford out with a hamstring injury and captain Dyson Heppell set to miss a week with a broken thumb.

Scans on Monday confirmed Langford suffered a minor hamstring strain in the loss to Sydney and he will be sidelined for three weeks.

But the Bombers only expect Heppell to be sidelined for a week after undergoing surgery on a broken thumb in his left hand on Monday.

There was more positive news for Jayden Laverde, who was cleared of serious damage to his shoulder after being forced off late in the match against the Swans.

He will face a fitness test this week.

Essendon general manager of football Josh Mahoney said Langford and Heppell had played out the game against the Swans with their injuries.

“We’re disappointed to be without him (Langford) for a period of time, particularly given he had just returned from a similar strain after completing a thorough rehab program and performed very well yesterday,” Mahoney said.

“Dyson played on (Sunday) with that broken thumb and he went for scans this morning which confirmed a fracture.

“He has undergone surgery this afternoon and he will likely miss this week but we will wait and see how this progresses over the coming days.”

Luke Breust is expected to return from injury before the end of the season. Picture: Steve Bell/AFL Photos

Meanwhile, Hawthorn sharp shooter Luke Breust could yet return for an Alastair Clarkson farewell after he avoided ligament damage in a collision with Brisbane defender Jack Payne on Sunday.

The club has confirmed the three-time premiership player suffered bone bruising in another dose of good news for Hawks fans following their shock win over the Lions.

Breust is expected to be available before the season ends with three games remaining of the Clarkson tenure.

Stephen Coniglio will miss again at a time when the Giants could do with him.

More injury setbacks for struggling Giants

— Marc McGowan

Giants captain Stephen Coniglio will miss a third-straight game with a toe injury he underwent surgery on, to add to the significant carnage out of Sunday’s loss.

Jacob Hopper and Phil Davis were already ruled out after suffering game-ending concussions, but Greater Western Sydney must make at least four forced changes for Friday night’s clash with Geelong.

Rising Star favourite Tom Green will be sidelined for the next fortnight with a low-grade hamstring strain, while Sam Reid (ankle) is also out from the weekend defeat to Port Adelaide.

Daniel Lloyd, who had an ankle scan on Monday, will need to pass a fitness test to face the Cats.

The club’s depth also took a hit when Jeremy Finlayson chose at the weekend to remain in Queensland with his pregnant partner, who is due to give birth in the coming weeks.

The Giants’ medical boss, Cullan Ball, said Coniglio was still managing soreness in the big toe that he tore medial ligaments in at the same time he sustained an ankle syndesmosis setback in Round 3.

It remains unclear if Coniglio will add to his four games this season.

“We know it was a serious injury that Stephen suffered earlier this year,” Ball said.

“He’s getting some pain in his toe as he builds up his training, so we’ll let it settle then look to increase his training to the point he’s able to play again.”

The timing of the injuries could hardly be worse, given the size of Friday night’s challenge and the knowledge they may have to win all three of their remaining games to secure a finals berth.

Bobby Hill and Braydon Preuss are part of the group quarantining in Brisbane who hope to fly into Melbourne on Thursday night.

Neither will be available this weekend, with Preuss recovering from a pectoral muscle tear and Hill needing match practice after heading back to Sydney to be with his pregnant partner.

Preuss remains unlikely to play in the home and away season, but provides extra ruck cover since Matt Flynn required a season-ending shoulder reconstruction.

Adam Kennedy (hamstring) is at least another week from returning.

Originally published as AFL 2021: Follow the latest injury news ahead of Round 21