EFNL 2025: Eastern clubs count cost of brutal weekend with several stars sidelined

A host of the Eastern league’s top players face lengthy stints on the sidelines following a heavy injury toll on the weekend. Latest here.

Brayden Kilpatrick (South Croydon) was among a host of stars injured on the weekend. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Several Eastern Premier Division clubs are counting the cost of a brutal weekend, with a host of the league’s best players suffering suspected long-term injuries.

South Croydon midfielder Brayden Kilpatrick will miss the rest of the season after succumbing to a broken leg in his side’s 26-point loss to Doncaster East.

Coach Brendan Allen described the injury as “pretty much like a car accident”.

“We’re hoping it’s not his career done,” Allen said of the former Box Hill Hawk.

“His leg’s been busted in three places and I think his ankle dislocated on the day as well.

“Once you dislocate an ankle there’s obviously ligaments, tendons and all sorts of damage.

“There was a stoppage in front of us in the last quarter, we were just starting to gain a little bit of momentum, the game was right in the balance.

“Arguably it should’ve been a free kick for holding, he ran past the ball, went back to pick it up and a Doncaster East player has tried to dive on the ball and taken his legs out.

“Whether it gets looked at, don’t know, that’s up to the league, but all we know is poor ‘Killa’ is awaiting surgery and that’s his year done.”

In the same match, Doncaster East ruckman Michael Wenn suffered a season-ending knee injury.

“He was going for a mark, there was no collision, he didn’t even land awkwardly, but he’s ended up dislocating his knee cap and ruptured a patella tendon,” Doncaster East coach Ryan James said of the ex-VFL big man.

“Unfortunately it’s a six to 12 month thing, he’s having surgery on Thursday.

“He’s a superstar player, but he’s also massive for our group – he’s everyone’s best mate at the club.”

Vermont faces a nervous wait over prized recruit Sam Weideman following a suspected shoulder injury.

The former AFL Demon and Bomber left the field midway through the first quarter in the 49-point loss to Rowville at Seebeck Oval and took no further part in the match.

Vermont senior coach Matt Adolph said the club was awaiting the scan results.

“They think it’s an AC joint, but the severity of it, we don’t know yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rowville will be without Anthony Brolic for at least the next fortnight after the midfield bull suffered a calf injury.

He left the field before half-time and did not return.

“He copped a knock, bit of a corky, taped it up, then went to go and felt it go,” Rowville coach Ben Wise said.

“He’ll go and get a scan and we’ll see what the damage is, but it looks like he’ll miss a couple, at least.”