AFL injury news 2023: All the latest updates from every club
Bombers fans, Peter Wright could be back sooner than you think. Plus why Buddy might’ve had a tough time against Freo and Geelong welcome back some stars. See the latest injury news here.
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Essendon fans will be happy with an update on Peter Wright, while a secret illness could excuse Buddy for his poor performance against Fremantle.
Plus a star Giant is back in business.
Read all that and more in the latest injury wrap.
WRIGHT TRACKING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Essendon coach Brad Scott says star forward Peter Wright’s recovery is “well ahead of schedule” with a possible return before the bye.
But the first -year Essendon coach also said the club won’t be rushing Wright back until they’re sure he is “absolutely” right to play.
Wright suffered a dislocated shoulder before the season began, leaving Essendon’s forward line without one of its most dangerous weapons.
But the news isn’t all positive out of Tullamarine, with the club’s midfield stocks taking another hit a week after Darcy Parish injured his calf.
Off-season recruit Will Setterfield, who has become a key cog in Essendon’s midfield since arriving from Carlton, has suffered a foot fracture.
Setterfield is expected to be out until after the Bombers’ round 14 bye, with the injury described as “short-to-medium term”.
“Will reported some foot soreness coming out of the weekend’s match,” Dons GM of football Daniel McPherson said.
“Upon further investigation, it’s been revealed he has a small fracture in his foot after being trodden on in game.”
Setterfield has averaged a career high 21.6 disposals, five marks and six tackles this year.
Meanwhile, Wright looked comfortable while taking a few strong marks during a training drill.
Scott confirmed Wright would step back into full training over the next week or so.
“There’s a possibility he’ll be back before our bye,” Scott said.
“He’s just had a surgical review and subsequent scan which has shown that the bone healing has progressed faster than the surgeon first thought.
“Functionally, he’s been in a good space, full range of motion, good strength, and I’ve touched on before, he’s just a thorough professional.”
Defender Jordan Ridley will return this week after suffering a concussion against Port Adelaide.
Scott said the club wouldn’t have ruled Ridley out of the game against Brisbane last week if it wasn’t for the league’s concussion protocols.
Ridley’s return is a huge boost after fellow backman Jake Kelly was ruled out again due to delayed concussion.
SECRET BUDDY ILLNESS REVEALED
Sydney coach John Longmire has revealed Lance Franklin spent two days in bed sick before last week’s loss, but forced himself to play due to his side’s injury crisis.
Longmire says expectations “have to be adjusted” for the 36-year-old forward, who was held goalless for a second consecutive week in the 17-point loss to Fremantle and has managed only seven goals in six games this season.
He defended Franklin against calls for him to retire, saying he was still crucial to the Swans and continued to take the best defender each week, creating opportunities for teammates.
“I spoke to (Franklin) Friday afternoon at 4.30 and he had spent all day in bed; he wasn’t going to play,” Longmire said.
“For him to be able to climb out of bed last week and get on the footy ground was just extraordinary.
“Clearly at 36 it’s a challenge for him, but he knows that we desperately need him at the moment.”
With Joel Amartey (hamstring), Peter Ladhams (arm), Logan McDonald (ankle) and Sam Reid (hamstring) all unavailable, Longmire said Franklin was selfless to put his hand up and should not be criticised for struggling on the field.
“The only other option we had was (Aaron) Francis to play forward, but we had to use him back; there was no one else,” Longmire said.
“In our VFL team, all of our forwards were sort of 180cm … it’s a credit to Bud to put himself in a position to compete – as far as I’m concerned I think Bud’s always absolutely team-first.
“The realistic opportunity for us at the moment is we need him playing and he’s doing everything he can to get himself right every week to get out there.”
Key defender Tom McCartin, who began his career as a forward and would be a potential left-field option in attack, will again be missing against the Kangaroos in Melbourne as he battles concussion symptoms.
“Tom McCartin won’t be in the team this week but Pete (Ladhams) we expect will be if he gets through training,” Longmire said.
He said in-form midfielder Angus Sheldrick was among a number of VFL players in contention for a call-up this week, with tighter defence and more efficient ball use in the forward half the focus for the selected side against North Melbourne.
CATS REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE
Geelong will toy with playing Jack Henry forward or back against Fremantle on Saturday as he and Tyson Stengle have both been cleared to return from injury.
Cats coach Chris Scott said both Henry (foot) and Stengle (broken arm) have been given the “all clear” to play, with Geelong selectors to weigh up whether to bring Henry into the side given he hasn’t played a match this season.
Geelong’s VFL side has a bye this week, ruling out a return through the reserves.
Forward Brad Close will return from suspension for the clash, with Ollie Henry (ruptured testicle) to miss.
Scott said Jack Henry’s form on the training track had vaulted him into selector’s minds after initial fears he wouldn’t play until the mid-season bye following surgery on his foot in March.
With Ollie Henry and Gary Rohan (hamstring) both out, Geelong is missing a third tall option up forward, while Esava Ratugolea is the sole true tall defender in the side with Sam De Koning (facial surgery) also out.
Scott said the Cats would weigh up whether to use Jack Henry to plug the gaps at either end, if he plays, given he lined up forward in the pre-season.
Geelong will continue to hold Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) back and Scott said the Cats were weary of bringing in as many as eight players in one week.
After impressing with six disposals and five tackles when subbed on in the final quarter on Friday, Jhye Clark’s role this week is also yet to be confirmed.
“It’s a little bit early in the week for us to be absolutely decided on it,” Scott said on Wednesday.
“We have a few balls in the air but Jhye didn’t do his chances of coming into the 22 any (harm).
“There is no reason to think he couldn’t come into our 22 and play well.”
SKIPPER SET TO RETURN FOR GIANTS
The Giants are hurting from the loss of another important defender to injury but are expecting to regain captain Toby Greene to face St Kilda on Sunday.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley says the star forward will play against the Saints as long as he gets through training unscathed, after a decision on his availability for round 9 came right down to the wire.
Greene’s recovery from the ankle injury he picked up during his heroic performance in the Sydney derby has been tempered by the loss of halfback Isaac Cumming, who will miss the next five weeks with a torn calf.
Kingsley said the 24-year-old was difficult to replace in a backline already missing Sam Taylor, one of the game’s premier key defenders.
“I think (Cumming) is a significant absence for us; he can play tall, small, he provides that real offensive run, but he’s certainly very safe in defence,” he said.
“Callum Brown gets an opportunity, Cam Fleeton got his opportunity on the weekend … both those boys had their moments where they’ve been really strong and we see a glimpse into what they’re capable of.
HOW PIE TURNED CAT SUFFERED NIGHTMARE TESTICLE INJURY
Geelong forward Ollie Henry is set to miss the next two games after rupturing his testicle late in Friday night’s loss to Richmond.
The rising forward was involved in a collision late in the 24-point loss and reported the nasty incident to Cats doctors.
He has since had the rupture repaired and Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said he is facing a fortnight out.
The nightmare injury is not unheard of in the AFL, with Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom suffering the same fate in 2019.
Former North Melbourne defender Scott Thompson also went down with the same injury in 2019, while Henry will be able to get support from Geelong assistant coach James Kelly, who had surgery on a ruptured testicle in 2015.
“Ollie Henry, late in the game had a testicular rupture from a collision,” Lloyd said.
“Basically, post-game he reported it to the club medicos and he has had that repaired so he will miss a couple of weeks.”
Geelong will debate whether to bring Henry’s brother Jack straight into the side as a replacement this week against Fremantle, with the defender ready to play after returning from a broken foot.
The older Henry hasn’t played a match since injuring his foot in a pre-season game and could return via the VFL instead. All-Australian Tyson Stengle is also pushing for a return, having joined in full training amid his recovery from a broken arm.
The Cats will hold a main training session on Wednesday, where Stengle and Jack Henry will push their cases.
Brad Close will come straight back into the side after serving his one-week suspension.
Lloyd said defender Sam De Koning (facial surgery) could be the next player off the Geelong injury list against GWS Giants in round 11, after he also returned to full training.
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