AFL pre-season injury news: Marc Pittonet head knock after Tom De Koning tackle, Mark Keane finger injury
A rough and ready training session has left Carlton big man Marc Pittonet dazed and confused after a shocking head impact after a tackle by a monster teammate.
AFL
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Carlton big man Marc Pittonet threw a scare through the Blues’ camp on Wednesday after some ruck ‘friendly fire’ left him with a head knock.
Pittonet, 24, was competing in a drill when he hit the ground hard following a heavy tackle from fellow ruckman Tom De Koning.
De Koning, 21, laid the tackle and then sent his teammate to the turf, leaving the former Hawk motionless on the ground for a few moments before he finally got to his feet.
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The young Blue immediately went to Pittonet’s aid and was apologetic for the force of his tackle.
But the Blues – and De Koning – were breathing a sigh of relief late on Wednesday when Pittonet was given the all-clear after an assessment.
He was left winded and with a “low grade head knock”, but it won’t impact on his pre-season campaign.
Pittonet and De Koning will compete for the No.1 ruck slot in 2021, having played 13 and seven games respectively last year.
They played four games alongside each other in the Blues’ 2020 campaign and the club has high hopes for both heading into this year.
IRISH PIE SIDELINED AFTER FINGER SURGERY
Young Collingwood defender Mark Keane is set to be sidelined for up to two months after undergoing finger tendon surgery last weekend.
The Magpies said the Irishman injured his finger in an unlucky incident at training last week when his finger got caught in a jumper.
It is hoped Keane will still be able to keep his fitness levels up by doing some running while his injured finger recovers.
Keane, from County Cork in Ireland, has played just the one senior game for the Magpies.
He made his debut in Round 9 against Fremantle last year.
CAMERON SUFFERS SETBACK
Superstar Geelong recruit Jeremy Cameron has suffered a minor hamstring injury as he prepares to start a new chapter at the Cats.
The Coleman Medallist hurt his hamstring less than a fortnight ago but has already resumed light running.
The minor strain is not expected to significantly hamper his preparation for the pre-season competition with the former Greater Western Sydney forward still expected to be available to play in the AAMI Community Series game between March 3-7.
The Cats will be keen to give the new recruit at least one pre-season hitout to give him some proper match time alongside spearhead Tom Hawkins in the lead-up to the Round 1 clash against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Cameron has battled hamstring issues in the past but the Cats are confident in the 27-year-old’s durability.
Cameron’s arrival will give the Cats one of the most potent forward lines in the competition on the back of last year’s Grand Final loss to Richmond.
Geelong handed over three early picks (No.13, 15 and 20) for Cameron but received two second-round choices back from GWS in the trade deal.
The Cats also landed North Melbourne jet Shaun Higgins to help replace retired champion Gary Ablett and former Saint Jack Steven.
Superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield is also on light duties as he manages a niggling groin injury which he carried for the bulk of last season.
Dangerfield spent significant time in the forward line to help him manage the adductor problem last season.
The Cats are hopeful some rest over the pre-season will help Dangerfield get on top of the injury.
As the Herald Sun revealed in October, the Cats have added former North Melbourne and Adelaide high performance boss Steve Saunders to their medical and fitness team.
Saunders will play a pivotal role in Dangerfield’s rehabilitation.
Chris Scott’s men were scheduled to take on Essendon and St Kilda in the AAMI Community Series but the AFL has confirmed there will be only one formal pre-season game and one informal scratch mate before the regular season starts.
DANGER FLIES FOR GROIN REMEDY
Patrick Dangerfield has been flying between Geelong and Adelaide to see former Crows doctor Steve Saunders for an ongoing groin issue.
The Geelong superstar has been on his own program so far in pre-season and training away from his Cats teammates.
This has led him to fly to Adelaide on a couple of occasions to see Saunders, who finished up as the Crows doctor at the end of last season after two years at West Lakes, for some specialised consultations.
Dangerfield, who played for the Crows 154 times between 2008 and 2015, is back at Geelong following his latest consult with Saunders — who has also had a medical role at North Melbourne.
Geelong is confident the groin issue won’t be a problem for Dangerfield in 2021, in which he and the Cats will be looking to go one better than their Grand Final appearance in 2020.
DEMON’S SEASON OVER AFTER SHATTERING INJURY
Melbourne defender Marty Hore was a casualty of Friday’s pre-season training session.
Scans on Friday afternoon confirmed the devastating news the 24-year-old had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
It came following an innocuous towards the end of the three-hour session.
He is likely to miss the entire 2021 season.
Otherwise, the Demons are in fairly good health as the 2021 season approaches.
Luke Jackson, Angus Brayshaw, Steven May, Clayton Oliver, Joel Smith, Aaron vandenBerg and Kysaiah Pickett all missed Friday’s match simulation, but they were involved early in the session.
Defender Michael Hibberd, forward Harrison Petty and Jake Melksham were not on the track.
SON OF ‘WIZ’ TURNS HEADS AT DEES TRAINING
The son of the ‘Wiz’ is turning heads at Melbourne.
Kobe Farmer, the son of former club great Jeff Farmer, is impressing at the Demons as he attempts to win a prized list spot before the start of the season.
With dad Jeff watching on keenly from the stands, Farmer Jr impressed at Casey Fields on Friday in the No. 48 jumper.
He played deep forward in match simulation, where he kicked a goal and took a good contested mark.
He appeared to roll his ankle late in the session but soon reappeared on the track.
The 18-year-old forward, who missed out in last year’s draft, played for Peel Thunder in 2020 before COVID-19 interrupted the WAFL season.
He was invited by the Demons to join training this month in the hope of winning one of the two remaining vacancies on the rookie list.
“As a list management team, we have been tracking Kobe’s progress for a number of years and we thought this would be a great opportunity to get a closer look at him,” Demons list boss Tim Lamb told the club website.
“We are pleased Kobe accepted the offer to train with the team through the pre-season.”
Should the Demons pick up the son of Jeff, he’ll be able to join the list through the pre-season supplemental period, which closes in early March.
HOW IS BEN BROWN LOOKING?
Ben Brown has made a strong early impression at his new club.
The former North Melbourne big man took part in the full session on Friday and provided a strong target up forward during match simulation.
He took marks and kicked goals, while his customary long run up for goal has come with him from Arden St to the Demons.
At one point he took a mark in the forward pocket and started his run up almost up on the wing.
The kick was good though, and that’s all that matters.
TRAC SET FOR HUGE 2021
Christian Petracca is set for a massive 2021.
Last year was a breakout year for the midfield bull, who won the club best and fairest and his first All Australian jumper.
He played every game, averaging 23.5 disposals per game and kicking 15 goals for the season.
The early indications are he’s on track to repeat this season.
The 25-year-old appeared a class above at times during Friday’s intra-club, floating between the midfield and forward line.
At one stage he left the track to get his shoulder strapped before soon rejoining the session.
WATCH OUT FOR BAYLEY
Track watchers say Bayley Fritsch is enjoying a stellar pre-season, and it was hard to disagree judging by Friday’s intra-club.
The 24-year-old was everywhere, but particularly up forward where the classy left footer did some real damage.
He kicked three goals in the intra-club and injected plenty of life into the forward line.
One of the Demons’ standouts this summer.
CAN LEVER FIND HIS BEST FORM?
Jake Lever knows he needs a big 2021 season, and it appears to have gotten off to a great start.
The defender, who played every game last year but failed to finish in the top 10 of the best and fairest, was a standout during Friday’s session.
He moved well and was very vocal from the backline.
Tom McDonald was another to impress at Casey Fields.
He played on a wing for the first half of the match simulation, and then became a floating third forward in the second half.
Adam Tomlinson also appeared settled as a key defender for the new season.
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