Sam Lowson set to return for Coburg after ankle injury ruined AFL mid-season draft hopes

Coburg star Sam Lowson is set to make his return from the ankle injury that ruined his hopes of being selected in the AFL mid-season draft, with the Lions to regain several key players.

Sam Lowson in action for Coburg before getting injury.

Sam Lowson and Tyson Lever are set to return for Coburg this weekend in a sizeable boost.

Billy Cannolo could also be an inclusion for Sunday’s clash VFL with North Melbourne, while Braedyn Gillard has two games under his belt with Northern Football League club Montmorency following a shoulder injury.

Lever is all but guaranteed to play at Piranha Park on Sunday, while Lowson faces a fitness test.

Lowson has been sidelined since Round 8 after suffering an ankle injury against Geelong.

It was a double blow for the star small forward who went down on the eve of the AFL mid-season draft, where he was touted as the No. 1 pick.

Sam Lowson celebrates a goal for Coburg.

“They were both in really good form before they unfortunately got injured,” Coburg assistant coach Chad Owens said.

“Freaks like Sam Lowson are usually good enough to come straight back in, he does enough with the high performance team, but won’t come back if he’s not ready.

“He hasn’t done a lot of ball work but he’s back running. Sam’s not a definite starter but we’re hopeful, we’ve definitely missed him.”

Lowson had kicked 16 goals in seven games before going down while Lever — brother of Melbourne’s Jake — was also a mid-season draft hopeful.

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With Hedley Smith showing promising signs in Lowson’s absence, Owens believed the pair, along with Cannolo, could form a formidable combination.

“I reckon they can complement each other — the more speed the better,” he said.

“That’s what we’ve been lacking, our small forwards with leg speed, people get a bit nervous.”

The Lions have five games remaining this season with two byes in the final seven rounds.

Hedley Smith in action for Coburg. Picture: Eleanor Armstrong

The clash against fellow strugglers North Melbourne could be an opportunity for Coburg to chalk up its third win of the campaign.

Owens said there were promising signs despite claiming just two wins in 2019.

“Hopefully we can find our way into some winning form. We’ve been playing really good footy but just one quarter a week is costing us,” he said.

“If we can maintain that level of consistency and concentration, we think we can win a few on the way home.”

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