Luckless Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer has received the results of scans on an ankle he hurt in the season-opener. The news is not good, and this injury comes with a cruel twist.
Luckless Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer is likely to miss the entire 2020 season with an ankle injury.
Kreuzer landed awkwardly in a ruck contest during the opening quarter of Thursday night’s match against Richmond, appearing to roll his left ankle.
He limped from the ground and was on crutches soon after.
Scans on Friday revealed a fractured fifth metatarsal.
"We thought that was a possibility last night, we were hoping it wasn't the case but the MRI did confirm it," Carlton high performance director Andrew Russell said.
"He will have surgery next week and he'll miss up to 16 weeks."
In a unique 17-round season, that all but confirms Kreuzer won't be seen again until the start of the 2021 season.
Carlton coach David Teague said on Thursday night he felt for the injury-prone Kreuzer.
“It’s a foot. That’s what I’ve told,” Teague said.
“You have pre-seasons, you want to play football. These are football players. They want to play. Kreuz has had a tough run. He had a pretty good pre-season but his body didn’t get through today and we’ll move on.
“We’re pretty lucky at the moment we’ve got Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning both close. We were umming and ahhing who we went for in the ruck this week. In the past with Kreuzer it was probably hands down we were playing him, but at the moment we’ve got competition for those sport.”
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Kreuzer has missed 15 games through injury over the past two years.
Richmond was also dealt an injury blow in the season opener, losing defender Nick Vlastuin to a concussion.
Under new AFL concussion rules, players must pass concussion testing five days before their next game in order to be cleared to play.
“We’ll let the doctor do what he does and he’ll have an assessment during the week,”
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.
“We know what those guidelines are and our Docs are pretty good with that.”
Richmond wins by 24 points.
The Tigers led from start to finish, setting up the win with an impressive first half.
Despite the shortened quarters, it was a high-scoring match.
Credit to the Blues for not giving up when all looked lost in the third term.
TIGERS
Dustin Martin 126
Dion Prestia 118
Shai Bolton 102
Ivan Soldo 100
Daniel Rioli 99
Marlion Pickett 94
Trent Cotchin 94
Liam Baker 91
David Astbury 90
Kane Lambert 90
Shane Edwards 86
Jayden Short 86
Josh Caddy 84
Jason Castagna 79
Nick Vlastuin 78
Jack Riewoldt 74
Tom J. Lynch 55
Sydney Stack 55
Nathan Broad 53
Dylan Grimes 50
Jack Graham 40
Toby Nankervis 27
BLUES
Sam Docherty 117
Sam Petrevski-Seton 113
Patrick Cripps 112
Jack Martin 107
Levi Casboult 104
Jacob Weitering 102
Marc Murphy 101
Kade Simpson 82
Zac Fisher 80
Mitch McGovern 69
Jack Newnes 67
Liam Jones 64
Ed Curnow 57
David Cuningham 57
Jack Silvagni 56
Sam Walsh 55
Nic Newman 39
Lachie Plowman 36
Matthew Kreuzer 33
Michael Gibbons 27
Paddy Dow 27
Will Setterfield 24
Richmond wins by 24 points.
The Tigers led from start to finish, setting up the win with an impressive first half.
Despite the shortened quarters, it was a high-scoring match.
Credit to the Blues for not giving up when all looked lost in the third term.
Richmond looks like it will hold Carlton at bay with the margin 18 points with just over two minutes left.
A few social distancing rules being breached here between David Astbury and Jack Newnes. Picture: Michael Klein
The Blues are mounting an extraordinary fightback with the opening three goals of the fourth quarter.
Suddenly the Tigers need a steadier after goals from Levi Casboult, Mitch McGovern and Jack Newnes have cut the margin to 15 points.
After the Tigers led by as much as 50 points in the third term, Carlton has kicked seven of the past eight goals.
Doctor Doctor, tell me the Newnes!
— AFL (@AFL) March 19, 2020
It's a 15 point game 🔥#AFLTigersBlues pic.twitter.com/1qrDMMhbAH
The Blues are mounting an extraordinary fightback with the opening three goals of the fourth quarter.
Suddenly the Tigers need a steadier after goals from Levi Casboult, Mitch McGovern and Jack Newnes have cut the margin to 15 points.
After the Tigers led by as much as 50 points in the third term, Carlton has kicked seven of the past eight goals.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsDoctor Doctor, tell me the Newnes!
— AFL (@AFL) March 19, 2020
It's a 15 point game 🔥#AFLTigersBlues pic.twitter.com/1qrDMMhbAH
The players are basically celebrating every goal like a regular game, with high fives and hugs.
The lack of respect for the recommended social distancing has left SEN commentator Gerard Whateley hot under the collar.Â
"What are the kids meant to make of that, sitting at home? They should deliberately not being doing it. Isn't is a part of the covenant of playing here?"
Carlton won that quarter five goals to three, with Jack Martin booting four of them in an outstanding Blues debut.
It's getting ugly for Carlton.
Richmond pair Jason Castagna and Daniel Rioli kick back-to-back goals to push the margin out to 50 points.
However, one highlight for the Blues has been Jack Martin's performance, who has kicked two goals this quarter, including a classy snap.
Jack Martin kicks his first goal as a Bagger 💙#AFLTigersBlues pic.twitter.com/1mrMNGN9xW
— AFL (@AFL) March 19, 2020