Northern Blues skipper Tom Wilson to undergo knee reconstruction after win over North Melbourne

The Northern Blues have been dealt a major blow with confirmation skipper Tom Wilson will require a knee reconstruction after collapsing in the win over North Melbourne.

Tom Wilson injured his knee against North Melbourne. Picture: Tim Murdoch

The Northern Blues were dealt a major blow this week with confirmation VFL skipper Tom Wilson will require a knee reconstruction.

The star midfielder collapsed just 10 minutes into the Blues’ 37-point win over North Melbourne on Sunday with scans confirming an ACL rupture.

Blues coach Josh Fraser said it was disappointing for Wilson but knew the club would rally around its leader.

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“It happened in the first quarter, it was really innocuous,” he said.

“There was literally nothing to it and sometimes that’s almost the worst thing when a player goes down in that fashion.

“He’s barely missed a game in my time, there’s no history of knees with Tommy.”

Tom Wilson in action for Northern Blues last year. Picture: Hamish Blair

It was a sour note to the convincing 12.17 (89) to 7.10 (52) victory that leaves the Blues eighth — equal third on points — heading into their second bye.

After a slow start, the Blues caught fire after quarter-time, kicking 10 goals to four with Noah Wheeler leading the way with three goals.

Carlton rookie Hugh Goddard continued his fine start to the season and is nearing an AFL return after another strong showing in defence while Will Setterfield (24 disposals, seven tackles) also put his hand up for a recall.

But adding suspension to injury, Frank Anderson will miss two weeks for a dangerous tackle on Bailey Scott.

Anderson has been one of the VFL’s recruits of the year after arriving from South Croydon but will not have the chance to further impress before the AFL’s mid-season draft.

Fraser said Anderson was “flat” after Scott was left concussed and believed there was plenty of AFL-calibre talent in his squad.

Sam Fisher in action for Northern Blues. Picture: Amy Paton

“He probably is (frustrated) in his own mind and he’s even more disappointed in how the tackle panned out because his intent was never to hurt,” he said.

“It’s really hard to know. I think there’s talent on our list that would be attractive to AFL clubs.

“Franky (Anderson), Sam Fisher, Jesse Palmer and Jono O’Rourke is finding his feet again and then we’ve got a lot of young talent that has missed out on being drafted in the last year or two.”

The Blues have copped two byes in the opening six rounds but Fraser was pleased with where the team sat at 3-1.

“It’s not ideal. In a perfect world we wouldn’t have a bye in Round 1 and again in Round 6,” he said.

“(But) if you’d said we’d be 3-1 I’d have taken it.

“I think the growth in the group has excited me and knowing our best footy is still in front of us.”

The Blues return to action on Saturday, May 18 when they host Frankston at Princes Park.

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