Michael Hurley at ‘high risk’ of dislocating his shoulder again, says medico Peter Larkins

Essendon will be taking a massive gamble playing Michael Hurley this week as a leading medico explains it won’t take much for his shoulder to dislocate again.

Michael Hurley has been warned his dislocated right shoulder could pop out the first time he punches a ball as he closes in on a risky qualifying final appearance.

Leading sports medico Peter Larkins said that playing only two weeks after a shoulder dislocation put him at an “extraordinarily high” risk of another episode on Thursday night.

Worryingly for the Bombers, Hurley was in clear discomfort after attempting his only full-bloodied spoiling attempt in a marking contest with Shaun McKernan during match simulation at training on Monday.

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Hurley winced in pain as he rose to his feet and then let his right arm dangle straight down by his side for about the next two minutes as he continued training.

He will likely play sore if he gets the nod, as expected, to take on the Eagles.

Separately, Speedster Orazio Fantasia left the track early with a knee complaint and was overheard asking the medical staff “Can you hyper-extend your knee on a kick?”

Hurley will likely take on Jack Darling or Josh Kennedy on the last line of Essendon defence only 13 days after his shoulder was bent back in a marking contest involving Aaron Francis against Collingwood in Round 23.

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Larkins told the Herald Sun the growing research on shoulder dislocations made it clear surgery was needed, but understood why the Bombers would play the All Australian defender.

“The risk is extraordinarily high. He needs to have it fixed. Pain wise and movement wise he will be fine but it’s just the looseness of the shoulder,” he said.

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“It can be as simple as punching a ball for it to pop out. It doesn’t have to be a traumatic incident like the last time. I am expecting him to play but in the knowledge that it could happen in the first minute or he could play the whole game.

“It’s not a definite, it’s just a high risk.”

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Hurley missed only four games with the AC joint surgery and hadn’t seemed to be carrying the left shoulder issue in Round 22 before the right shoulder sublaxation.

“It’s his right arm so it’s his main punching arm and main contest arm,” Larkins said.

“The ruckman will often tap with his opposite arm, but as a defender who likes to punch, I have seen them dislocate the first time a player goes to punch. It throws the arm forward and comes up forward when it dislocates.

“We are really drilling deeply into the risk of shoulder dislocations mid-season and the risk of dislocation again when they come back is extraordinarily high but with finals he won’t be doing that.”

Essendon defender Michael Hurley trains at Tullamarine on Monday. Picture: Getty Images

Captain Dyson Heppell (foot) and ruckman Tom Bellchambers (calf) completed only light duties yesterday, while Jake Stringer (sore) and Cale Hooker (groin) got through the session.

Fantasia missed the loss to Collingwood with a hip issue but failed to complete yesterday’s session because of the fresh knee issue.

Essendon coach John Worsfold yesterday before training said he was optimistic Hurley would play.

“He has to say he thinks he’s able to play at the required level in this game and the medical staff have to agree that and say that they’re comfortable he’s available,” Worsfold said.

“We have to decide if we are ready to pick him. At this stage he’s tracking really well.

Originally published as Michael Hurley at ‘high risk’ of dislocating his shoulder again, says medico Peter Larkins