AFL 2024: All the latest injury news around the competition
Josh Kelly has done another calf, less than a month after returning from a similar injury in a massive blow to the Giants’ hopes, plus see the latest on James Sicily’s shoulder injury.
Collingwood
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The Giants have been handed another blow ahead of their crucial clash against Carlton with gun midfielder Josh Kelly suffering another calf injury.
Kelly missed a month of footy earlier this season when he suffered a calf injury against the Bombers in round 10. He returned in round 15 and was crucial in their victory against Port Adelaide at home.
However, following three weeks back in the team, Kelly will return to the rehab room for at least the next month after injuring his other calf against the Crows.
He had 24 touches and two goals against Adelaide last weekend, but reported soreness following the game. Scans revealed a calf strain that could keep him out for up to five weeks.
The Giants’ vice-captain is vital to the club’s orange tsunami game style, regularly leading his side for score involvements around the ground. The club will also be without Sam Taylor for at least this weekend, with the key defender only just running again this week following his groin injury.
Kelly spoke to media on Monday before the extent of his injury became known and was determined to help turn the team’s current form slump around.
“We feel like we’ve got the belief we can be a good team, but ultimately we know we’re not at the level we need to be at at the moment,” Kelly said.
“It’s a key part of the season, the season’s not done we’re well and truly in the hunt for finals and I believe we can play finals but that is dependent on us stepping things up and getting to the level we believe we can get to.”
In the next month, the Giants take on Carlton (H), Richmond (A), Gold Coast (H) and Melbourne (A) as they look to rise back into the top eight. Kelly has proven he can return earlier than expected from a calf injury before, and will be looking to do it again with his side’s finals chances well and truly on the line.
HAWKS SWEAT ON SKIPPER’S HEALTH
Promising Geelong ruck Toby Conway is being assessed for yet another injury setback after being pulled out of the club’s VFL win on Sunday as Hawthorn sweats on captain James Sicily.
A sour point in Sunday’s 61-point win over West Coast, Sicily dislocated his shoulder and watched on in the final term.
He similarly dislocated his right shoulder in round 9 against the Western Bulldogs and missed the next two matches.
Hawthorn flew back into Melbourne on Monday, with Sicily set to head in for scans, leaving the Hawks to know more about his condition on Tuesday.
A structural problem that requires immediate surgery would be a cruel blow for the skipper, given the Hawks are within striking distance of the finals after three losing seasons.
A win over rival Geelong on Saturday could push the Hawks into the top eight.
Players have played through pain and difficulty in the back-end of seasons before, with Max King copping a shoulder issue that required surgery in July last year.
But the Saints spearhead pushed through and played in St Kilda’s elimination final loss before going under the knife.
Hawk young forward Calsher Dear was subbed off during the Eagles game shortly after copping a nasty blow to the ribs but he has been cleared of injury.
Six-game Cat Conway was spotted in a moon boot on Sunday, but on Monday Geelong was unclear on the extent of any injury.
Seen as a long-term solution to Geelong’s ruck problem, Conway’s three years on the Geelong list has been littered with injury woes.
He missed time most recently for a hip issue, an injury that dogged him in his first season at Geelong in 2022.
A foot stress fracture then derailed the first half of 2023, before Conway was finally able to make his AFL debut late in the season.
He then had minor foot surgery at the end of the 2023 campaign.
Conway played three senior games in a row from round 11 and appeared to have solidified himself in the Geelong side but coach Chris Scott has been clear that the club won’t push the youngster too hard, too soon.
“We don’t take any risks with any of our players but Toby is right up at the top of the priority list when it comes to being a little bit careful,” the coach said earlier this season.
The Cats have turned to defender Sam De Koning as its No. 1 ruck in the past fortnight against Carlton and Essendon, with De Koning improving as the game wore on in Saturday’s win over the Bombers.
Geelong will meet Hawthorn big man Lloyd Meek in Saturday’s twilight clash.
PROGNOSIS NOT POSITIVE AS PIE SET TO MEET CONCUSSION PANEL
Collingwood expects Beau McCreery to miss next week’s clash against Essendon as Josh Carmichael prepares to meet the AFL’s concussion panel.
The Pies again flashed home in their loss to Gold Coast but coach Craig McRae was frustrated it took a perilous situation to get the best out of his side.
The Dons and Pies will face off in front of another huge crowd on Friday night as they push their top four credentials.
But McCreery is battling a calf strain after a heavy tackle against the Suns and is set to miss the clash.
Defender John Noble also finished the game off the ground after a head knock that saw him play only 80 minutes of game time.
The Pies had midfielders Scott Pendlebury and Jordan De Goey returning against Gold Coast, while Brody Mihocek kicked two goals off a hamstring strain.
But the club’s band of injured players are still out for some time, including Mason Cox (knee, 2-4 weeks), Jamie Elliott (vascular issue, 2-4 weeks) and Tom Mitchell (foot, 2-4 weeks).
The club also has to make a call on when Dan McStay returns off his knee reconstruction as he continues to make rapid strides in training.
McRae said of McCreery’s calf: “Beau has got some form of trained calf. Not sure if it’s a kick or a calf, you would think he’s unlikely.”
Carmichael’s prognosis does not look positive as he battles concussion symptoms that have seen him unable to play or train for some time.
He will meet with the AFL’s concussion panel in coming weeks, with that panel to decide his future.
It has already retired Nathan Murphy, Aiden O’Driscoll and Angus Brayshaw this year after assessing their symptoms and brain scan results.
While there is no one-size-fits-all decision from that panel, players who have shown signs of deterioration through their brain scans have been retired.
McRae will need to find more firepower after having to shift Jeremy Howe forward and also conceding 68 inside 50s to the Suns.
“The pressure in the last quarter, why aren’t we delivering that in the second quarter? You wrestle with this stuff,” McRae said.
“Anyone that’s watched us in the last couple of years knows we’re coming. But you’ve still got to do all that all the time.
“We’re really proud of that part of our culture, and we want to continue to celebrate that, but we don’t want to be in these positions. How many times do you want to put yourself in a position where you’re going to have to do this miraculous comeback?
‘Proppy’ Pie in doubt as skipper pressure mounts
With another star under an injury cloud after a loss, the focus at Collingwood has turned to the poor form of the club’s captain.
Pies denied as footy’s new fortress claims another big scalp
Gold Coast has withstood a Nick Daicos-inspired last-quarter charge from Collingwood to celebrate one of its biggest home wins and keep its dream of a maiden finals berth on track.