Round 16 AFL injury news: Who is hurt and who is on the way back at your club
Nakia Cockatoo will leave Geelong’s Queensland’s hub and fly home after another injury setback. The exciting forward is coming out of contract and Cats coach Chris Scott has addressed his future.
Collingwood
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Injury prone midfielder Nakia Cockatoo has been ruled out or the remainder of the season and will return to Victoria in coming days to undergo wrist surgery.
The speedster and his partner will also head home to be with family just before the birth of their first child.
Cockatoo suffered the injury during a scratch match and was able to play through the discomfort. But given his desire to return home for the birth of his child, the likelihood he wasn’t going to play at AFL level this year and the requirement for surgery post-season, he will leave Queensland.
“He has a wrist issue that requires surgery that we have been trying to find a way through over the last couple of weeks to give him the option of playing for us this season,” Cats coach Chris Scott said.
“That hope is all but extinguished now, unfortunately. That is disappointing for us and Nakia obviously, but we are still supremely confident he will be an important player for us into the future.”
Cockatoo has played just 34 AFL games since he was drafted with the 10th overall pick at the 2014 AFL Draft.
The last of those 34 matches came in Round 3, 2018 and despite stringing together a handful of scratch matches this year he wasn’t so much as named as an emergency for the Cats.
Geelong has been patient with the 23-year-old despite persistent soft tissue injuries because of his talent.
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Although he is out of contract at the end of this year, Scott said the preparations were underway for Cockatoo’s next pre-season with the club.
“We are going to prioritise what is best for him long term, get him back to Melbourne, get his wrist operated on, let him enjoy a great time in his life with the arrival of his first child and give him enough time to prepare well for a pre-season with the Cats,” Scott said.
“It was an acute injury that allowed him to play through it for a period of time but it was always clear that he was going to require surgery at the end of the season and it’s just developed to the point where we don’t feel comfortable with him continuing to play through it.
“Especially with all the other issues around Nakia’s injury history and the things that he should prioritise in his personal life as well (we decided to send him home).”
‘FUNKY STUFF’ LEFT HANNEBERY GOING ‘LIKE A BUSTED’
St Kilda veteran Dan Hannebery is confident surgery on his hamstring tendon will shake the injury curse that has sabotaged the first two seasons of his five-year contract at Moorabbin.
Collingwood star Jamie Elliott and Saints champion Nick Riewoldt had the same operation and have told Hannebery it worked medical wonders for them.
Hannebery, 29, said orthopaedic surgeon Julian Feller found some “funky stuff” inside his right hamstring when he flew back to Melbourne for surgery last month.
The 2012 premiership player admitted he and good mate Buddy Franklin had “been busted asses over the last couple of years” due to hamstring problems.
But Hannebery will exit the AFL’s Gold Coast quarantine hub on Tuesday and drive two hours north to rejoin St Kilda’s Noosa base as he targets a finals comeback.
While the star midfielder expects to be fit for Round 18 he will instead use the next three weeks to target a return in the first final, if the Saints qualify for their first series since 2011.
Hannebery has not played since Round 5 and will have missed at least 90 days by the time the finals roll around.
But as a veteran of 22 finals he said the heightened intensity wouldn’t worry him.
St Kilda physio Andrew Wallis and Richmond physio James Rance have been helping Hannebery, Gary Ablett and Shane Edwards, along with Jarryd Roughead, Mackie and Tigers assistant Sam Lonergan.
Injured Saint Jade Gresham watched the training session wearing a Scottie Pippen singlet.
“It’s been a bit of a collaborative approach, in terms of getting the work in that all three of us need,” Hannebery said.
“We’re pretty much doing the same sort of sessions. It certainly gives you a bit of a confidence boost heading into our respective hubs.”
Riewoldt had hamstring tendon surgery in 2010 and played for another seven years while Elliott missed all of 2016 and 2018 but has played 30 out of 45 games since.
“That gives you really good confidence in the surgery and in the path we’ve taken with the rehab,” Hannebery said.
Hannebery completed a 45-minute training session on the patch of grass at the Mercure Resort on Wednesday.
He’s champing at the bit to get back on the park.
“The way I feel and the way I’ve been training the last few weeks if I wasn’t in quarantine I’d probably put my hand up to play that Round 18 game.
“Gresh reckons I’m looking better than before I got injured.”
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THE GAZ AND ROUGH SHOW
Geelong superstar Gary Ablett spent 15 minutes trying to outmuscle Jarryd Roughead on Wednesday as the little master lit up a 45-minute training session staged inside the AFL’s quarantine hub.
Ablett, 36, will join the Cats’ hub on Tuesday and is certain to take on Sydney in Round 18 as he tunes up for his first final away from the MCG since 2005.
It is understood Brad Close, 22, will be forced out of coach Chris Scott’s team as a selection squeeze looms.
Scott also has to find room for Joel Selwood, Rhys Stanley, Zach Tuohy and potentially Jack Steven in the next two games.
While Stanley will replace Josh Jenkins the other changes are set to be heavily debated at match committee.
The Cats couldn’t be better placed both for 2020 and the future.
They are a $4.50 second-favourite for this year’s premiership, hold three first-round draft picks and are eyeing free agent Brad Crouch, with Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield eager to reunite with his former Adelaide teammate.
Ablett’s one-on-one duel with St Kilda’s off-field recruit Roughead stole the show in the quarantine hub.
Cats great Andrew Mackie booted a series of high balls above Ablett and Roughead, who wrestled competitively and competed for marks.
The drill was finally set to finish when a sweaty Ablett called for one more, and jumped over a perfectly-positioned Roughead to spoil the ball.
“Me and Shane (Edwards) were both laughing going, ‘Imagine doing body work with Rough when Rough looks about twice his size’,” spectator and St Kilda star Dan Hannebery said.
“That’s the special player that he’s been. Gaz did some pretty special stuff (on Monday) where he was able to get off the ground, get to his feet and hit targets.
“He certainly hasn’t lost it.”
Ablett flew home for personal reasons after Round 7 but is back in Queensland with wife Jordan and son Levi.
An official from a rival top-eight club wandered past the session and mused that his team would love to have Ablett slotting in at half-forward next week.
The quarantining players will have their biggest training session together on Friday on a patch of grass that has suddenly become one of the most decorated in Australia.
In total there are 12 premierships, 15 All-Australians, two Brownlows and a Coleman medal shared by Ablett, Roughead, Andrew Mackie, Hannebery and Edwards training on it.
DOGS SET TO REGAIN FIGUREHEAD
Premiership skipper Easton Wood is in the mix to return to the Western Bulldogs’ line-up this Sunday despite training away from the main group on Wednesday.
Wood injured his hamstring in the loss to Geelong on August 28 and missed last Sunday’s thrilling victory over West Coast, but could be back for the Dogs’ crunch match against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.
He spent Wednesday’s small-groups training session at Metricon Stadium undergoing fitness drills.
Luke Beveridge’s side is ninth, tied on 32 points with eighth-placed GWS but trailing by 0.9 per cent, so almost certainly needs to win both its games to be a chance to make the finals.
Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen said Wood’s inclusion would give the side a huge lift.
“He’s definitely a chance for this weekend,” Johannisen said.
“He’s got to get through some training and if he pulls up really well, he’ll put his hand up for selection.
“He’s a terrific player and the way that we play with his intercept ability … and kickstart of our ball movement is going to be crucial.”
The Giants’ shock loss to Adelaide and Melbourne’s defeat to Fremantle boosted the Bulldogs’ finals hopes but Johanissen said his side was simply focusing on what it could control.
He said players were spending their down time switching off from football, rather than watching other games that shaped the top eight.
The Bulldogs’ charge to the premiership from seventh spot and their two-point win over flag contender West Coast on Sunday both offer belief to the side.
“With this group we just have to get in and who knows what can happen,” Johannisen said.
“If we can put that four-quarter effort in, we know we can beat anyone.”
GIANTS STAR OUT FOR THE SEASON
Key defender Phil Davis will leave the GWS hub and return to Sydney after being ruled out for the rest of the season.
The former Giants co-captain has been managing bone bruising in his right knee for much of the season.
New scans revealed he will need another eight weeks rest, which would take him past the October 24 Grand Final.
“Phil has been managing this injury across this season but unfortunately it’s reached the point where only a long period of rest will fix the problem,” Giants football manager Jason McCartney said.
“With that in mind, it was decided that it’s in Phil’s best interests to return home to Sydney to be with his partner and family and he’ll undergo minor surgery in the coming days.
“Phil’s an incredibly important part of our line-up so it’s disappointing for us on-field but this is the best option to make sure he’s fully fit for the 2021 season.”
THE DOUBLE PLAY WHICH THREATENS TO REIGNITE PIES
Jordan De Goey will have a pin removed from his finger this week and could return before the home and away season is over in what could be a double boost of star power for the Magpies.
The Collingwood forward — who has been sidelined since he injured the flexor tendon in the middle finger of his right hand in Round 7 — will consult with surgeons before a call is made but the Magpies remain hopeful that he could feature against Port Adelaide in Round 18.
“(We’ve said) we’re confident that Jordan would resume before the end of the home and away season,” Magpies football boss Geoff Walsh said.
“Obviously the surgeon … his information will go a long way towards giving us a more accurate account of when he does return.
“We’ll get more information later in the week on Jordy.”
De Goey’s teammate Adam Treloar could also return in that game after being sidelined with a hamstring injury since Round 10, but Walsh said he must clear the significant hurdle of a number of intense training sessions before he would be given the tick to play.
“He has started to do some really significant training in terms of not so much the competitiveness, but the ball work and his running has been strong,” he said.
“We’re really pleased with the way he is progressing and similar to Jordy, we are confident that he will see some football before the end of the home and away season. He’s still on track for that, but we need to get a few more of the strong, full training sessions into him before we can give any further accuracy to that.
“But our confidence remains high that he will see some football before the end of the season.”
In a recovery that has exceeded even club expectations, youngster Will Kelly could yet play again this season after undergoing an elbow reconstruction earlier this season.
Fellow emerging Pie Flynn Appleby will unfortunately be sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring injury after pulling up sore at training.
SHATTERING BLOW FOR DONS’ CULT HERO
One of 2020s most heartwarming football stories has been delivered a savage blow with an ACL tear confirmed for Essendon young gun Irving Mosquito.
The 20-year-old – who was playing his fourth game for the Bombers on Sunday – went down after an innocuous change of direction.
Scans on Monday revealed that the exciting forward will require surgery, with the usual 12-month recovery timeline putting him at risk of missing the entire 2021 season.
“This is very disappointing news for both Irving and the club, but we will rally around Irving and provide our full support to him,” Essendon head of football Dan Richardson said.
“Irving made an impressive debut during our Dreamtime game against Richmond and held his spot in the senior side for the past month.
“Irving will require surgery and the club will fully support him during what will likely be a traditional 12-month rehabilitation process.”
SIDEBOTTOM COULD PART OF PIES’ FLAG BID
Steele Sidebottom’s bid to rejoin his teammates after his baby’s imminent birth will almost certainly involve a 14-day hard quarantine in a Queensland hotel room.
Collingwood’s Sidebottom was applauded for returning from the club’s Perth hub to be with his partner Alisha Edwards for their baby’s birth in coming days.
If the baby is born safely he is keen to at some stage return to play in a potential finals series with the Pies.
But when Geelong’s Gary Ablett and Richmond’s Shane Edwards attempted to quarantine together outside of an official AFL hub at the Gold Coast Mercure they were told there was no wiggle room.
They would have had to quarantine for the full 14 days in a hotel room with no access to fields to train or even a hotel gym given the Queensland government’s determination to limit COVID numbers.
The clubs considered all manner of left-field solutions including hiring a house with a large backyard but were told in no uncertain terms it was not possible.
They ended up delaying their trip north to be in the AFL’s hub starting on October 1 but at this stage there is not another flight north for a resort-based hub.
Brisbane was able to get a treadmill and some free weights into the hotel room of Irishman James Madden when he returned under mandatory quarantine for the resumption of the AFL’s season.
So Sidebottom would need to quarantine then quickly regain his match fitness and put himself in a position to return for the Pies in the finals.
The AFL’s finals series will likely start on Wednesday September 30.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said last month Sidebottom wanted to return for the business end of the year.
“It’s always been this way, by the way, it’s not a new story,” he said.
“It might be new to everybody here, but obviously Alisha is having a baby, their first baby, and it wasn’t applicable (for her) to go up to Queensland.
“So Sidey will be coming home to be there for the birth of his child with Alisha and then hopefully straight back.”
TIGERS SET FOR BOOST
Dylan Grimes appears on track to make his return from a hamstring injury in Richmond’s crunch clash with Geelong on Friday night after training with the main squad on Monday.
The Tigers hit the track in small groups at Metricon Stadium and All-Australian defender Grimes, who missed last week’s game against Fremantle, moved freely.
He will have to pass a fitness test to be cleared for the fourth-versus-second match against the Cats.
Fellow dual premiership player Kane Lambert was also listed as a “test” on Richmond’s injury report on Monday after training as normal.
Shai Bolton was involved with the rehabilitation group but the Tigers said there was no issue with the emerging midfielder and he was simply having his load managed due to playing long periods of games lately.
They said he could be part of Wednesday’s full-squad training session.
Dion Prestia joined Bolton away from the main groups, doing light running, and he was without the IV drip he had in his left arm and bum bag carrying fluid last week, to flush out an infection in his injured ankle.
Prestia, the Tigers’ reigning best and fairest, is pushing for a return for Round 18, although is more likely to come back for the finals.
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