EFNL 2021: Berwick captain Luke Sheppard expected to miss season, future uncertain says coach

A Berwick star’s career is in doubt, while the club nurses a long list of injuries to start its Eastern league campaign. Latest here.

Berwick skipper Luke Sheppard is expected to miss the season following another serious injury. Picture: Supplied

Berwick has been hit with a heavy injury toll to start its Eastern league life, with several key players sidelined and a star name’s future in serious doubt.

An undermanned Wickers outfit fell to Rowville on Saturday to slump to a 0-2 start to the Premier Division season, with up to 10 of their top names missing in action.

The latest casualty is captain Luke Sheppard, who suffered an Achilles injury in the first quarter of the Round 2 clash and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

The injury comes after Sheppard made his long-awaited return in the narrow loss to Noble Park in Round 1, following a knee reconstruction which kept him out for the 2019 campaign.

Berwick senior coach Clint Evans lamented the situation spelled an uncertain future to a decorated career that has spanned more than 150 games, adding that the human element transcended the on-field ramifications of the injury.

“This could be the end with him after his knee reco, and he’s going in for an operation I think next week for it,” Evans said.

“It’s not just a footy thing, the poor bugger, he’s getting married later in the year and he’s got his own business as well.”

Sheppard heads a long injury list which saw ex-AFL Hawk Travis Tuck (soreness), defender Joseph West (corked hamstring), midfielder Riley Heddles (concussion), former captain Bryce Rutherford (ankle) and Nick Hillard (hamstring) among those to miss the Round 2 match.

Evans is hopeful of Tuck’s return this week from soreness. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Meanwhile, key defender Will Arthurson was missing due to travelling with VFL outfit, Frankston, and is a “50-50” prospect to line up for the Wickers this week.

Evans said he expected Heddles to be back this week, while he’s hopeful of Tuck’s return.

West is expected to miss another two matches and Hillard and Rutherford are in line for a return following the bye, which comes after match-ups with Balwyn this week and North Ringwood the week after.

“We were just found wanting against Rowville who were just bigger and stronger on the weekend, it was hard, and injuries at the moment are killing us,” Evans said.

“With the personnel out going into Round 2, we were always going to be up against it.

“It’s not great, but it is what it is … hopefully over the next couple of weeks a few of them will filter through.”

Clint Evans hopes to regain a few players after the bye. Picture: Jason Sammon

Evans said his side looked forward to the challenge of Balwyn this weekend, despite the heavy injury toll.

“We know it’s going to be hard, but if we can get our full complement of players, I think we can be really competitive – we haven’t had this bad a run of injuries, not even in the Outer East,” he said.

“It’s only two rounds in, it’s a long season, and we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater yet.”