All the updates on key injuries in the GFL and BFL

An Inverleigh stalwart has had a huge dose of luck after fears he’d done his ACL, but it wasn’t good news for his teammate.

Michael Grozdanovski for Inverleigh

Inverleigh is set to lose Kadison McEwan-Walsh for 12 months after scans confirmed the tall forward has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Hawks coach Adam Donohue said the absence of McEwan-Walsh would leave a hole in his ladder-­leading side’s structure.

“He was our ruckman in 2021 then we got Luke Wilson in,” Donohue said.

“He plays the forward role really well, just to give Luke Wilson a chop out he goes in the ruck for sort of anywhere from five to 10 minutes a quarter as well.”

Kadison Mcewen-Walsh has done his ACL. Picture: Mark Wilson

However, the blow was softened for the Hawks by the fact Michael Grozdanovski has avoided the same fate, with a grade two posterior cruciate ligament the extent of the knee injury he sustained in the same game in round 12.

Donohue said Grozdanovski was free to begin running this week.

“When he’s right to go he’ll come back, I think he was aiming at the Bell Post Hill game which (is) round 16,” he said. “In saying that, he’s only played two games and I think two quarters for the whole year.

“Pending how our health is going, he may have to (come through the reserves), given he hasn’t played a lot of footy this year.”

Blake Hutchinson’s minor hamstring injury was the only negative in Inverleigh’s win over North Geelong at the weekend.

Giants defender’s “teeth bent backwards” in clash

Geelong West is hopeful one of its players will not lose any of his teeth after a nasty collision left the defender concussed.

Giant Nick Wood had his “teeth bent backwards” when Leopold’s Luke Justin collided with the Giant in a marking contest.

Justin was hit with a two-game suspension for engaging in rough conduct, and chose to accept the ban handed to him.

Giants coach Greg Mellor said the incident left Wood “rattled”.

“It was a big hit, the surgeons are hopeful they might be able to save his teeth,” he said.

“But his teeth are bent backwards, so there’s a wire on them now.”

Wood will miss at least the next three games of football, joining a growing list of Giants out of action with injury.

Captain David Peel is expected to return after the bye, while Jayden Symes, Brad Wood and Ethan Liddle are all one or two weeks away from playing senior football.

Titik Nyak and Hugh Collins will not return for the Giants this year, with the pair suffering respective ACL injuries, while Riley Moore is still about three weeks away.

Mellor said he was excited to welcome back some key players after the bye.

“There’s some big names that have missed a fair few games this season,” he said.

“It’ll be great to get them back in for five or six games of footy.”

Wood’s incident was one week after a clash between Eagle Matt McMahon and Saint Harry Benson left last year’s Mathieson Medalist with three breaks in his jaw.

While Justin accepted a suspension for his hit on Wood, McMahon appealed his ban and overturned the initial two-week suspension.

Some of Geelong football’s biggest local names have spent significant portions of the season on the sidelines, battling with injury and illness.

But with the GFL and BFL enjoying a bye at the weekend, there are a number of players who are looking to return to the field next round.

Read the updates on the competition’s injured players.

BIGGEST NAMES ON THE MEND

Harry Benson – St Mary’s

The biggest name in the GFL at the moment, Benson may not return to the field in 2022 after suffering a significant facial injury in round 11.

The Mathieson Medalist broke his jaw in three places after a collision against Newtown & Chilwell, with the incident resulting in surgery and receiving four plates and 17 screws inserted into his jaw.

While medical advice advised the midfielder to lay off football for about four to six weeks, there are no guarantees Benson returns for a St Mary’s finals run.

The Mathieson Medalist broke his jaw in three places after a collision against Newtown & Chilwell, with the incident resulting in surgery and receiving four plates and 17 screws inserted into his jaw. Picture: Mark Wilson

Sam Wolfenden – St Albans

The Supersaint suffered a dislocated shoulder against Lara in round 10, and despite avoiding surgery he will miss the remainder of the season.

It was Wolfenden’s first game since 2021 and he only lasted a half of football before being crunched in a tackle.

Luke Goetz – Bell Park

One of the GFL’s premier rucks, Goetz has missed three games so far this season.

The Dragon does look set to return to the field to play St Albans after missing round 12.

Goetz is averaging 31.9 hit outs per contest in 2022.

GFL Football: Grovedale v Newtown & Chilwell. Grovedale 10 Cameron Delaney Picture: Mark Wilson

Cam Delaney – Grovedale

Grovedale is expecting star Cam Delaney to be available for the side’s must-win clash against Geelong West.

Delaney has not been sighted at GFL level since round 8, but should return for the game against the Giants.

He has averaged 11.8 disposals and 1.5 goals per game in 2022.

Originally published as All the updates on key injuries in the GFL and BFL