Rory Lobb out for 4-6 weeks with hairline fracture to his back
THE luckless run of injuries has continued for GWS with ruckman Rory Lobb set to miss up to five weeks after fracturing his thoracic vertebrae.
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THE luckless run of injuries has continued for GWS with ruckman Rory Lobb set to miss up to five weeks after fracturing his thoracic vertebrae.
Lobb was taken to hospital after he copped a knee to the back in the Giant’s 108-point win over Gold Coast a week ago.
He was cleared of a punctured lung but continued soreness led to further investigations which revealed the hairline fracture.
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“He has a crack in his thoracic spine,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
“It is minor in terms of the crack being really small but it’s in one of those awkward spots in his back. We have to be really careful it doesn’t turn into a bigger issue later in the year.”
It will be Lobb’s second extended break this season after he missed four weeks with a knee injury.
“It is really disappointing,” Cameron said.
“Rory was in his fifth game back after his knee injury and he was just starting to get some momentum. We have to make sure we rehab that injury and give him time. It’s not like he has to rehab it really hard he will need to let the injury heal before he goes out and plays for us.”
10 year veteran Dawson Simpson is Lobb’s likely replacement after a solid run of form in the NEAFL.
“There is no doubt he will be considered heavily,” Cameron said.
“He’s played some really good footy and he clearly wants an opportunity and he’s hungry for it. Matty Flynn is playing some really good footy as well. Over the next month the opportunity to look at Dawson and Matty is definitely going to be there.”
The Giants have also lost Daniel Lloyd for 4-6 weeks with a medial ligament injury to his knee. Stephen Coniglio is expected to return after missing round 12 with concussion.
Toby Greene is pushing towards full training as he recovers from a foot injury but remains at least another three weeks away.
“Toby has turned the corner,” Cameron said.
“He now needs to have three weeks of good training. We can’t expect him because he’s turned the corner with his foot that’s right because he’s missed seven games now.”
Brett Deledio is 4-6 weeks away from a return from a calf tendon injury and Tom Scully is still at least six weeks.
“It’s a nasty injury,” Cameron said.
“He has his good days and his up and down days.”
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