AFL 2020: All the latest Injury news for Round 8
Collingwood faces a long stretch without both Jordan De Goey and captain Scott Pendlebury, with the former warned his finger may never be the same if he doesn’t give it a chance to fully heal. AFL injuries
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Jordan De Goey would risk lifelong damage to his finger if he rushed an early comeback as Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has conceded he will miss several weeks with an injured quad.
Collingwood has lost three of its past five games as it enters a period of four contests in four states in the 14 days from Sunday’s clash against Fremantle.
The Pies’ best is clearly good enough to win the premiership, with Steele Sidebottom blowing out the cobwebs in a weekend scratch match ahead of his return from a four-week suspension.
Scans on Pendlebury’s quad confirmed a small tear which means he will miss at least a fortnight and potentially three or four games.
“Warming up it was probably my last kick for the warm-up session,” Pendlebury said on Monday.
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“I just felt a little pinch in my quad and had scans this morning and there’s a little strain there.
“I’ll probably miss the next couple of games which is unfortunate but I think we made the right call not to play.”
If Pendlebury missed three weeks he would be absent from clashes against Fremantle, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.
But he was buoyed by the return of Sidebottom against Fremantle.
“Sidey coming back in gives us an experienced guy around the footy and it will be good for supporters to see Sidey running back around.”
The Pies have conceded De Goey’s finger tendon injury is an 8-10 week injury after he ruptured the tendon in an opponent’s jumper while tackling.
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Respected sports medico Peter Larkins said the Pies were right to take a conservative route on De Goey’s recovery, even if it saw him missing a final.
If he returns in eight weeks he should be ready for the first week of finals given Round 9-12 and 13-16 could each be played over three weeks before regular Round 17 and 18 fixtures.
“It will be a judgment based on movement and strength. He has to be able to grip and flex his fingers to his palm,” Larkins said.
“It is an injury notorious for not healing if you don’t take the time for the tendon to seal back into the bone near the tip of the finger and that takes 8-10 weeks.
“The tendon can pull away from the bone again if you play at six weeks when you have some movement and then you rupture it again.
“If you rupture it you could be in trouble for the rest of your career, so I can see him playing at eight weeks if he has the best result. He’s not able to protect it with a glove like a broken hand, but I reckon they will be able to get him back in eight weeks in the best case.”
Sunday’s match was the first time since 2009 the Pies have played without either Pendlebury or suspended on-baller Sidebottom in their team.
The loss of Pendlebury compounded growing injury concerns at Collingwood, who are also without important defender Jeremy Howe and star forward De Goey.
Callum Brown injured his ankle in the second quarter against the Eagles after he landed awkwardly in a marking contest.
Coach Nathan Buckley was confident midfielder Brown (left ankle), who impressed early, and defender Brayden Maynard (foot) would be available against the Dockers.
RETURNING CAT TO PLAY WITH PLATE
Tom Stewart will help injury-hit Geelong take on Fremantle with a titanium plate protecting a collarbone broken in three places by a Tom McDonald bump.
The Cats will play a Fremantle side building in momentum, aware of the potential for an upset despite Nathan Fyfe’s absence with a recurring hamstring strain.
Geelong has been forced into six changes, with stars Joel Selwood (hamstring), Gary Ablett (personal reasons) and Luke Dahlhaus (foot) out.
Jack Steven has been rested again despite an 11-day break, while Darcy Fort (foot) and Jordan Clark (shoulder) are also unavailable.
Stewart has been missing since the Round 4 win over Melbourne, where Tom McDonald’s bump behind play saw Stewart’s collarbone snap.
But the titanium plate holding his collarbone together will ensure the shoulder is structurally sound to take on Fremantle’s forwards.
Mitch Duncan is ready to return for a Geelong side that will on Tuesday fly to a Gold Coast hub where the Cats will play four games in 13 days.
Geelong coach Chris Scott says Fyfe’s absence will again give the Dockers young stars and experience matchwinners another chance to shine.
“It’s a huge error psychologically and tactically to go in thinking the opposition’s best player is out, let’s take some liberties and attack more than what we would have with them in,” Scott said.
“They would be a better side with Fyfe in it, every team would, but I don’t think (his absence) guarantees us much.
“I’ve got a high regard for guys that I know well in David Mundy and Michael Walters who play well through the middle.”
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RICH SIDELINED WITH HAMSTRING COMPLAINT
Brisbane looks set to be without defender Daniel Rich for next Friday night’s clash with Essendon with a hamstring issue.
Rich left the field in the second quarter of the Lions’ win over Melbourne on Sunday night and played no further part in the match.
The 30-year-old would be a massive loss for the Lions, who rely heavily on his brilliant kicking skills off half back.
After his side’s win over the Demons, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan was resigned to being without Rich against the Bombers.
“It was obviously not good enough to go back on, so (he’ll have) scans tomorrow and an assessment,” he said.
“I wouldn’t think he’d be right in five days, unless it’s a nerve-related thing.
“It certainly wasn’t one where he couldn’t run or pulled up short.
“He could still run, we’ll just see.”
A very late change to the @CollingwoodFC side.
— AFL (@AFL) July 26, 2020
Out: Scott Pendlebury.
In: Atu Bosenavulagi.#AFLEaglesPies pic.twitter.com/5aIjbTMr2d
HANNERS HEADS HOME
Luckless Saint Dan Hannebery has left the team’s Noosa hub, returning to Melbourne for hamstring surgery that has put his season in serious doubt.
Hannebery, 29, flew home on Sunday and will have surgery this week on his right hamstring tendon, which he originally injured in Round 5 and hurt again at training on the Sunshine Coast on Friday.
Hannebery has managed just 10 games since he arrived at the Saints at the end of 2018 after his 2019 season was cruelled by injury to his right hamstring, and would require a miracle recovery to play again this season.
But he is adamant that his career is anything but over.
“As much as a lot of people will be doubting my ability to get back and consistently play week-in, week-out, I think I’ve still got some confidence there that given the last 18 months and some of the work that I have been able to get in, that I can get back and play some decent footy,” Hannebery told Channel 7.
Hannebery’s luckless run with soft-tissue injuries, and particularly his right hamstring has plagued his time at Moorabbin, with his first season at the club in 2019 restricted to just four games.
“We obviously feel for Dan who has put in so much work to get himself right and will now need to complete a lengthy program before returning to the field,” Saints head of football David Rath said just before the call for surgery was made by club doctors on Saturday night.
“We are not sure at this stage exactly how long he will be sidelined for … we think he will miss a considerable amount of footy.
“Dan is a really important part of our group with his experience and leadership, and the way he can influence both at training and on game-day. It’s obviously a blow for him personally and for the team.”
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten said on Saturday after his side’s win over Port Adelaide: “Dan has had a bit of a setback yesterday when he was doing some rehab training. He re-injured that hamstring … it looks like it’s going to be a lengthy out. We don’t know whether it is going to be three, five or six (weeks) out but we will find out from the doctor.”
COTCHIN SET TO RETURN AS TIGERS BRACE FOR HECTIC RUN
Richmond looks set to regain skipper Trent Cotchin and key defender David Astbury for Wednesday‘s Metricon Stadium clash with the Western Bulldogs — the first of four games for the club in 19 days.
Tigers senior club advisor Neil Balme said if the experienced pair returned — as expected — it would give the reigning premiers a boost following Friday night’s 12-point loss to Greater Western Sydney.
“We thought Astbury would play last week, but he just came up a little bit sore (ahead of the Giants‘ clash),” Balme told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“We’re pretty confident ‘Cotch’ will be fine and will play this week.”
Cotchin, who hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury against Melbourne in Round 5, told Channel 7 on Friday night he had recovered and was ready to play again.
Richmond went into the GWS clash minus seven of its premiership players (eight if you include Gold Coast‘s Brandon Ellis), but Balme said the club was learning a lot about its younger players.
“We always want to win, and we could have won, but we’ve been able to give opportunities to players,” Balme said. ”That’s the positive view we have at the moment.
“We really want to play the younger guys every week, but it is hard to fit everyone in.”
The Tigers faced a tough and tight month ahead, with clashes with the Bulldogs, Brisbane Lions (Metricon Stadium), Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) and Gold Coast (Gabba).
Bachar Houli and Shane Edwards continue to train in Melbourne with their return to the club’s Queensland hub still a possibility in the coming weeks.
“They are training here (in Melbourne) with the other boys and coaches,” Balme said. ”They are doing a fantastic job.
“Their special circumstances are their special circumstances, but they are no less committed to the club and their mates.
“It is a matter of how we manage them and it’s a bit of a challenge because we would love to have them back.”
Toby Nankervis (ankle), Dion Prestia (ankle) and Josh Caddy (hamstring) will remain on the sidelines for at least the next few weeks, perhaps longer.
Balme is confident the Tigers will adapt to the compressed fixture as well as life in the Queensland hub.
“We sort of felt this unusual environment would suit us, but it hasn’t quite worked yet,” he said. ”But I think it will, as our guys have got a rather rational view.”
It comes as triple Coleman Medallist Matthew Lloyd put the heat on Richmond forwards Tom Lynch (who has been battling a finger injury) and Jack Riewoldt to lift their game.
“Tom Lynch 11 goals from eight games, no effect. Jack Riewoldt eight goals from eight games, no effect,” Lloyd said on 3AW.
“They are both struggling to get off their opponents which can happen …
“(Lynch) has got to bring more tricks to his game … they (Richmond) are getting the ball in there, but they are not getting the separation from their opponents now.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE TIGERS
R9, v Western Bulldogs (Metricon Stadium), Wednesday July 29
R10, v Brisbane Lions (Metricon Stadium), Tuesday August 4
R11, v Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), Saturday August 8
R12, v Gold Coast (Gabba), Monday August 17
THE INJURY UPDATE
Trent Cotchin (hamstring) – likely to be available
David Astbury (knee) – likely to be available
Dion Prestia (ankle) – 2-5 weeks
Toby Nankervis (ankle) – 2-5 weeks
Josh Caddy (hamstring) – 3-5 weeks
Bachar Houli (personal reasons) – indefinite
Shane Edwards (personal reasons) – indefinite
Originally published as AFL 2020: All the latest Injury news for Round 8