Port Melbourne Colts suffer big setback on the eve of SFNL finals

Josh Caddy and his finals-bound Port Melbourne Colts have been hit with an injury headache at an inopportune time. See the latest details.

Josh Caddy. Picture: George Sal

Port Melbourne Colts has been dealt an enormous injury blow on the eve of the Southern league finals.

The fifth-placed Colts will be without Josh Caddy for the rest of 2023 unless they are to go deep into finals after the dual-premiership Tiger suffered a hamstring setback on Saturday.

Caddy, 30, has missed a fair chunk of 2023 through injury before returning three weeks ago.

The Colts’ playing-coach has played just five matches this season with no appearances between rounds 5 and 14.

In two of three matches since his first injury, Caddy has been named among the Colts’ best.

He appeared proppy on his heavily-strapped right knee at the first handful of contests during the Colts’ clash with St Paul’s McKinnon on Saturday and made it just halfway through the term at full strength.

He continued on for the next two-and-a-half quarters at full forward, albeit without his normal impact, before finishing the tight contest on the interchange.

Josh Caddy spurs his players on at a huddle this year. Picture: George Sal

Caddy is unsure how long the injury will leave him out for but remains certain he won’t rush back if it has a possibility of being detrimental to the team.

“I am not too sure, I am definitely going to try and play again, it’s just been recurring, I am not going to put myself out there at risk and take someone’s spot, who has played all season,” he said.

“I will make sure it’s 100 per cent right before, how long that will be, I am not too sure.

“We had a couple of disappointing weeks but before that we won five in a row.

“You have to go through those games against the best sides to learn a few things and change things up.

“We had a good win on the weekend, scraped over the line but still played much better and are still fighting to stay in that fifth spot — once you get in there, you just never know.”

While it seems Caddy would only return if the Colts were to play in the final weeks of the season, football operations manager Elton Stevens says the club remains confident it can contend without his presence on field.

“It’s a slight hamstring strain. Majority of the year he hasn’t been with us and we have competed well,” he said.

“He still adds a massive layer to us in the coaching aspect.”

Caddy joins other Division 1 stars sidelined through injury with Mitch Brown (Mordialloc), Shem Tatupu (St Kilda City) and Matt Wetering (Springvale Districts) already missing extended periods.