EDFL 2019: Moonee Valley’s Ned Wilson back from knee reconstruction

After 12 months on the sidelines, league best and fairest winner Ned Wilson is set to return to the field this weekend. But Moonee Valley coach Shanon Carroll faces a tricky decision.

Ned Wilson (right) has been on the sidelines for the past 12 months. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Moonee Valley midfielder Ned Wilson is set to return to the field this weekend after 12 months on the sidelines.

The Fog co-captain and 2016 EDFL Division 2 league best and fairest winner underwent a knee reconstruction after tearing his ACL against East Sunbury in June last year.

Wilson’s return is a major boost for the premiership contender, with Moonee Valley having seven home-and-away games remaining before finals.

The club is in third position on the ladder with a 5-3 record ahead of Saturday’s away clash against second-placed Burnside Heights.

“He’s got the all clear and done all the hard work,” Fog coach Shanon Carroll said of Wilson.

“He’s just been away for a couple of weeks. If he’s confident, then I’m confident, and we’ll take it from there.”

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But it is uncertain whether Wilson will feature in Moonee Valley’s senior or reserves side. The likelihood that he will be on limited game time has left Carroll with plenty to ponder.

“He’s not the sort of person you want in the reserves, but at the same time I believe when you come back from a reco … it’s only half a game to start with,” Carroll said.

“If that’s the case, do we risk going a rotation down for half a game against Burnside?

“Although it’s supposed to be half a game, Ned is a competitive beast, so is he going to adhere to that?

“I’ll try to get him straight in, but ultimately it will be his call.”

The versatile Braden Padmore and midfielder Cory McGrath have been among Moonee Valley’s leading performers this season, while Rocky Ferraro (36 goals) and Jordan Faba (29) have been damaging in the attacking half.

Luke Ryan, who was a member of Airport West’s Division 1 premiership team last year, has also started to fire in the middle of the ground.

“He’s just getting better and better,” Carroll said.

“He had something like 48 touches (against Hadfield in Round 9). He was down on himself early and admitted that, but he’s really risen to the occasion now and shown some leadership.”

Carroll said the Fog had plenty of work to do to challenge the competition’s pacesetters later in the season.

“We still haven’t beaten a side above us yet, which we have to respect,” he said.

“In saying that, we think we’ve got the right mix and game plan — it’s just a matter of hopefully getting on a big ground in finals and we can actually utilise it.”

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