EFL 2018: Ringwood captain Trent Farmer suffers broken arm in 18-point win over Boronia

RINGWOOD has suffered a huge injury blow on the eve of its finals campaign, with captain Trent Farmer rated a “50-50” chance of returning this year.

RINGWOOD could be without captain Trent Farmer for its Division 3 finals campaign after the star forward broke his arm on Saturday.

Farmer’s injury overshadowed the Redbacks’ come-from-behind 18-point victory over Boronia, finishing the home and away season undefeated for the first time in club history.

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Farmer was brought down in a tackle midway through the third quarter, undergoing surgery on Saturday night to have two plates inserted to repair the radius and ulna bones in his forearm.

Trent Farmer suffered a broken arm in this tackle. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Ringwood coach Brett Rowe said Farmer’s only hope of returning this year would be if the Redbacks advance to the Division 3 grand final on September 16.

“The doctors have said it’s definitely not over … a lot of things have to go right for him but they definitely haven’t shut the door on him,” Rowe said.

“I’d say he’s still 50-50 at this stage if we can get there (grand final), but it’s still a chance.

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“Probably am being optimistic but so long as that door is still open, he just needs to be given the all clear by the surgeons.”

Farmer finished as the competition’s leading goalkicker in 2017 and also won the league best and fairest last year.

He had booted 61 goals this year to sit second on the goalkickers tally.

Rowe maintained Ringwood could win its first premiership since 2005 without Farmer.

“While he is important to us, very important to us, I think our ability to find other avenues to goal has been really important,” he said.

“We didn’t have Trent for a couple of weeks during the year and we still won so we think we’re still more than capable of winning, even without him.”

Ringwood coach Brett Rowe. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Midfielder Mitch Jackson was concussed in the 9.10 (64) to 6.10 (46) victory but will be fit for the semi-final on September 2.

Ringwood will be left with some selection headaches in the next fortnight with Jayden Cairns and Daniel Collier to return from broken hands, while Kyle Matthews also did not play on the weekend.

“There are some important ins to come into the side for that first final,” Rowe said.

“It’s a good position to be in from a club perspective but unfortunately there are some conversations you’re not going to enjoy having, but that’s what you’ve got to do if you want to win the premiership.”