Uni Blues hope for better luck on injury front after torrid 2015 VAFA campaign

AFTER being hit hard by the injury curse last year, University Blues hopes better luck will fall its way over the 2016 VAFA season.

VAFA football: St Bernard's V University Blues. University Blues coach Quinton Gleeson. Picture: Josie Hayden

THE injury curse has been cruel to University Blues over the past 18 months.

Last year it was Tom McKenzie, Jack Townley and Tom Silvestro who headlined a large group of players sidelined by injury.

Without a ball being bounced in the 2016 Victorian Amateur Football Association season, the Blues have already lost one of their prized recruits.

Former North Melbourne flyer Kieran Harper is set to miss most of the campaign due to ongoing ankle problems.

“There’s a chance that it might need a reconstruction but they won’t know until they get in there and have a good look,” Uni Blues coach Quinton Gleeson said.

“It’s a shame for the comp.”

University Blues champion Ross Young is also highly unlikely to play in the VAFA after taking out the competition’s Woodrow Medal alongside St Bernard’s Adam Bentick last year.

Gleeson said Young had not trained with the club all summer, with work commitments likely to limit him to a handful of appearances in country football.

“He might play 5-6 games for Donald, where he’s originally from,” he said. “But he won’t be playing too much.”

Ross Young shared last year’s league best and fairest medal with Adam Bentick. Picture: Supplied.

But it is not all doom and gloom for the club.

Former West Australian Football League forward Tim Geappen has been impressive throughout pre-season, while Marshall Rippon, Cameron Williams and Jeremy Mugavin are set to play key roles.

Gleeson said the addition of Paul Bunn from Eastern Football League side Blackburn would bolster the side’s defence, while highly-rated Dale Hinkley will play in the VAFA when not selected by Collingwood VFL.

McKenzie, whose 2015 season was ruined by a serious knee injury, is expected to return between rounds 4-6.

Former Fremantle player Clayton Hinkley has also stood out on the training track, but is unlikely to be available until round 3-4.

“He’s flying on the track, particularly with all the running stuff,” Gleeson said.

Gleeson said the club expected to see little of former TAC Cup star Kade Answerth, who has signed as an aligned player but will feature in the VFL for Sandringham.

Uni Blues’ season starts on Saturday, April 9 against Old Melburnians.