AFL 2023: All the injury news ahead of round six
Collingwood will be without Dan McStay for a number of weeks, so how creative will they get with their key position players? Captain Darcy Moore hints at the plan for ANZAC Day.
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Collingwood captain Darcy Moore says the Magpies are still positive about their available key position options despite an injury toll that continues to mount.
After makeshift ruckman Daniel McStay suffered a finger tendon injury on Sunday which will see him sidelined for at least six weeks, Moore said there was still no need for the Magpies to be concerned about their height across the ground.
Billy Frampton rucked for the majority of the six-point win over St Kilda and impressed with nine disposals, 27 hit-outs and three tackles, but a return to defence looms for the Adelaide recruit on Anzac Day as the Magpies prepare for in-form Bombers ruck duo Sam Draper and Andrew Phillips to spend significant periods of the game in attack.
Moore said 196cm Nathan Kreuger was “certainly in a position to come in” after recovering from a shoulder reconstruction in January.
Kreuger, who has been plagued by shoulder issues in his time at Collingwood and has only managed seven games since his 2021 debut, remains highly rated by the Magpies and was rushed back into the senior side as a medical substitute after a long injury lay-off for both Collingwood’s finals last year.
“ (Kreuger) has obviously spent a few months in rehab with a shoulder injury, so it always takes a little bit of time to get much practice, but he’s a super competitive player and he’s played like it on the weekend at VFL level,” Moore said.
“So he’s definitely someone who won’t care what position he’s in – if he’s asked to play in the ruck, he will come in and do his job for sure.”
The silver lining to the Magpies’ injury crisis was that their attempts to fill the void with makeshift ruckmen had paid off so far, Moore said.
Moore was coy when asked if the clash between the two top four sides would be the biggest Anzac Day game of his career.
“I don’t know … Nathan Buckley used to always say that your most important game is the next game, so I suppose according to him, yes,” Moore said.
“I mean it certainly feels like it, both teams are in the top four and have started the season really well.
“Neither of us are finished products by round 6, so we’ve got a lot of improvement in us but it certainly feels like a big game for sure, and I think it’s already sold out so that’s a pretty good indicator.”
Jordan De Goey is being kept away from Magpies training as he deals with “minor lingering effects” from the illness that sidelined him against the Saints, Collingwood said on Wednesday.
He will rejoin the group later this week and is expected to play on Anzac Day.
KEY DON SET TO BOLSTER FORWARD STOCKS
Key forward Sam Weideman could return to the Bombers’ forward line on Anzac Day after being cleared of concussion symptoms, with performance boss Daniel McPherson saying the former Demon would train fully this week.
Weideman’s return could come at the expense of Harry Jones, who is on a modified training program along with key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher after the pair suffered ankle injuries against the Demons.
McPherson confirmed young defender Zach Reid would return through the VFL this weekend after overcoming a back injury, with Kaine Baldwin to join him in the reserves after exiting the concussion protocols.
“Zach will be available for selection this week,” McPherson said.
“He’s ticked off all the relevant markers we needed from him and we can’t wait to see him out there.”
SAAD NEWS FOR BLUES
Good news for Carlton’s big man stocks was offset by confirmation star defender Adam Saad will miss the next two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Ruckman Marc Pittonet was cleared of any eye damage after being subbed out of last weekend’s loss to Adelaide and will line-up against St Kilda on Sunday.
Key defender Mitch McGovern, who was a late withdrawal against the Crows with a calf issue is also a chance to play the Saints, needing only to get through training this week to take his place.
But scans have confirmed Saad, who limped off Adelaide Oval late, suffered a low-grade hamstring injury and he’ll be sidelined for a minimum two weeks at a crucial time for the Blues who face the ladder-leading Saints, West Coast, and Brisbane in the next three weeks.
The Saad blow comes with Sam Docherty also sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury.
But Carlton coach said his team was ready to tackle St Kilda who had surprised plenty with an unbeaten start to the season before losing to Collingwood last weekend.
“I’ve seen them in the last couple of weeks up close and they’re in good nick,” Voss said.
There’s one in really good form, so we look forward to the challenge.”
Dog’s long lay-off after excruciating injury revealed
Western Bulldogs swingman Josh Bruce’s road back to football could be a lengthy one after details of his excruciating rib injury have been revealed.
The 30-year-old was crunched as he went for the ball in Saturday night’s loss to Port Adelaide, sandwiched at ground level between Power pair Jeremy Findlayson and Jed McEntee, and will now consult with specialists before any call on a return is made.
Bruce sustained three broken ribs and fractured his sternum in the incident, with the injury likened to those sustained in a car accident.
“In the third quarter of the game on the weekend, Josh went to ground in a contest and received direct contact from an opposition knee straight into his ribcage,” Bulldogs medical chief Chris Bell said.
“Unfortunately this has caused significant damage to multiple ribs in Josh’s chest.
“Josh has returned to Melbourne – we’re seeking specialist advice on how to best manage him.
“We aren’t going to set a time-frame at the moment, but hope to update more specifically in the next couple of weeks.”
The father-of-two — also a keen surfer — returned to Melbourne on Monday and is resting while he awaits further assessment, his teammates having travelled from Adelaide straight to Perth where they will face Fremantle on Friday night.
Star midfielder Bailey Smith will be sidelined for that game having missed Gather Round with calf tightness.
“We’re optimistic he’ll make a return in the week or two following,” Bell said.
Alex Keath (concussion) and Laitham Vandermeer (broken leg) will face fitness tests.
Hayden Crozier has been cleared to play after his back issue.
“Alex has been progressing in line with our expectations,” Bell said.
“He still does have some boxes to tick, so he’ll work through that through the rest of this week, but we expect him to get through main training and hopefully be available this weekend.
“Laitham’s been the ultimate professional – he’s been back in full training for a period of time now, and we’re looking forward to welcoming (him) back to availability this weekend.
“Hayden had a whiplash-type injury against Richmond. In some good news, those symptoms have now fully cleared.
“He’s back into a full training model, and will return to availability this week.”
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