AFL 2023: Latest injury news following round 6
The Bombers have received a big hit to their defensive stocks in the wake of their loss to Collingwood, with a key defender ruled out for at least two months with injury.
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Essendon will be without injured defender Jayden Laverde for up to two months in a massive blow to the club’s back line.
Laverde hurt his shoulder in the loss to Collingwood on Tuesday and is facing an extended stint on the sidelines to recover.
The Bombers confirmed the defender would be out for the medium term, meaning goal kicker Kyle Langford may have to be swung back to defence.
Laverde has been a key pillar in Essendon’s much-improved defensive operation but the shoulder injury will force coach Brad Scott to rejig the setup.
The Bombers fave a huge challenge stopping Geelong’s key forwards Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins on Sunday at the MCG.
Young defender Zach Reid made his return from injury in the VFL at the weekend and will continue to build towards senior selection.
DID PENDLES PASS THE EYE TEST? STAR PIE RACING CROWS CLOCK
Collingwood is cautiously optimistic Scott Pendlebury can prove his fitness for Sunday’s huge clash with Adelaide, despite suffering a scratched eyeball in the club’s thrilling Anzac Day victory over Essendon.
The Magpies will give the in-form veteran every chance to play – even though it is a short turnaround – after he was cleared of any significant damage after copping an accidental poke in the eye during the clash.
It is understood Pendlebury suffered blurred vision after the incident and was in considerable pain following the match.
He saw an eye specialist on Tuesday night and will be monitored through the week, though he is hopeful of taking on the Crows in a match-of-the-round clash at Adelaide Oval.
Pendlebury’s wife Alex said on social media: “Sport! His eye has looked better but it will be okay thankfully.”
Collingwood will release a full injury list report in the coming days.
Pendlebury will likely have a few days away from the club as he recovers.
The 35-year-old has maintained his outstanding form this season, as evidenced by his 21 disposals in his 16th Anzac Day clash. He has averaged 23.5 disposals in his six games this season.
The Magpies will welcome back Taylor Adams from his one-game suspension, while important defender Nathan Murphy will be pushing to play after missing the Anzac Day clash due to concussion suffered against St Kilda in the incident that saw Anthony Caminiti suspended for three matches.
DEVASTATING RESULTS OF SKIPPER’S KNEE SCANS
Gold Coast captain Touk Miller is set to be sidelined for a significant portion of the season in a major blow for the struggling Suns.
Scans on Monday confirmed that Miller had suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, after he had to be helped from the field during the third quarter of Sunday’s win over North Melbourne.
“We expect him to miss a fair portion of footy,” Gold Coast football boss Wayne Campbell said.
“We can’t really put a time frame on that until after he’s seen the surgeon, but he will be unavailable in the short-to-medium term and we’ll provide further updates, once confirmed.”
A durable player, Miller has missed just one game over the past four years, and that was through suspension.
The 27-year-old – who has earned All-Australian honours the past two years – had been averaging 27.6 disposals, 7.4 clearances and seven tackles from his first five games this year.
Gold Coast has won just two of its first six games this season as it continues to chase its first ever finals berth.
The Suns travel south to take on Richmond at Marvel Stadium in round 7 action on Sunday.
Speaking after the Suns’ 43-point win at Carrara, Miller told Fox Footy the injury was “around my knee and my meniscus ... it’ll be a small recovery and we’ll be back out and running soon.
“Nothing’s cleared but I doubt it’s an ACL.”
Coach Stuart Dew said Miller was in good spirits after his side secured an “important” victory.
“He was rapt for the club,” he said.
“We knew this was an important one and it’s a game we should win, however the competition – as we’ve seen this weekend – chops and changes and you’ve got to front up each week.
“It was good to get that.
“At times North tried to wrest control of the game and I feel like we were a bit more composed at times.
“I think we played connected footy and were on the same page.”
Dew paid tribute to spearhead Ben King’s five-goal performance and said he’d been “building” towards it.
“He was probably not far off a game like that against Geelong a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
“We’re not surprised he’s continued to present...he hasn’t been far off one of those games for a couple of weeks.
“Importantly, he’s never dropped his head or lost confidence in (the work) he’s done.”
Worst-case result for Giants backman
Star defender Sam Taylor will miss 10 weeks in a crushing blow for Adam Kingsley’s Giants amid a horror injury toll from the loss against Brisbane.
Much-loved defender Adam Kennedy also suffered a second ACL tear after replacing Taylor as the sub in the loss to the Lions.
The 2-4 Giants had hoped Taylor might have suffered only a high-grade hamstring strain that would keep him out for 4-6 weeks, but the 10-week recovery timeline suggests he suffered hamstring tendon damage.
Taylor was the AFL’s most dominant defender in the early rounds of the season but suffered the hamstring injury as he sprinted behind Brisbane’s Joe Daniher.
Defender Leek Aleer suffered an ankle injury in the VFL that will see him miss two weeks while Phil Davis is out for another 2-3 weeks with a groin issue.
Kennedy suffered a 2017 ACL tear and while he is not one of the Giants’ stars he is a popular veteran after being involved in the club’s first AFL game back in 2012.
GWS football boss Jason McCartney said the club was gutted for Kennedy.
“It’s shattering news for Adam and the club but we’ll wrap our arms around ‘Kenners’ and give him all the support he needs,” McCartney said.
“He’s a much loved member of our footy club and we know he’ll attack this setback with his trademark hard work and diligence.”
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