AFL injury news: Who is fit, who is in doubt for Round 1?
St Kilda running machine Bradley Hill has backed his housemate Paddy Ryder’s decision to take a break from footy as the Saints seek to fill the ruckman’s void.
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St Kilda midfielder Brad Hill says teammate Paddy Ryder has the full support of the Saints’ playing group as he takes indefinite leave from the club to reunite with family.
St Kilda revealed on Wednesday that Ryder had requested time away to be “with family and elders in his community”.
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A close friend of Ryder, Hill said he was acutely aware of what the ruckman was going through but expected him back at Moorabbin in the not-too-distant future.
“We actually live with each other at the moment,” Hill said of Ryder on Fox Footy’s AFL360.
“He just needs a little bit of time to go see his family.
“He hasn’t seen his family in Perth for over 16, 17 months and (he wants to) go see his kids over in Adelaide.
“So we’re here to support him and he’ll go away for a couple of weeks. Once he’s ready to come back, he’ll come back and all the boys will be right behind him.”
St Kilda assistant coach Jarryd Roughead said Ryder would be a big loss in the short-term.
“Going into the season with Paddy playing so well against North Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, we thought he’d be a lock for Round 1,” Roughead said.
“But with him leaving it creates opportunity and you saw what happened on Thursday night with the combination of (Shaun) McKernan and Paul Hunter. They both did pretty well and you’d think both would put their hand up ready for Round 1.”
RYDER TAKES PERSONAL LEAVE AWAY FROM FOOTY
—Jay Clark
St Kilda will be missing its first choice ruck duo for Round 1 and potentially beyond after Paddy Ryder was granted personal leave from the club.
With Rowan Marshall (foot) also missing, the Saints could call on former Crows listed player and Supplemental Selection Period signing Paul Hunter and Shaun McKernan, who joined the Saints in November as a delisted free agent from Essendon, to take the tap out duties.
Ryder missed the Saints pre-season game against Carlton last Thursday night because of a head knock, with Hunter and McKernan playing as the rucks.
Coach Brett Ratten said Ryder shouldn’t be away from the club for long.
“It’s up to him, but I think he’ll be back in the next few weeks. We just want him to go there and do what he has to do and reconnect with everybody and then come beck to the Saints,” Ratten told Fox Footy’s AFL360.
“We know he can play the game, his finals performance was outstanding and everybody said he’s getting a bit older, but he’s very wise and he knows how to play the game and Paddy Ryder really knows how to help our football team.
“But him as a person comes first and we need to make sure he’s all right.”
Ratten said Hunter was a lock for Round 1.
“Paul will play Round 1, it is amazing football and what opportunities come for people,” he said.
“Four weeks ago Paul Hunter wasn’t even at our football club but within four weeks he’s going to play Round 1. It’s amazing.
“I think when you look through history there’s some opportunities.
“I think Heath Shaw had to play two games in one day and was the best played in both games, the reserves and the seniors and it kickstarted his career and he never got out of the Collingwood team.
“He’s going to get a great opportunity to represent the Saints in Round 1.”
The Saints said Ryder, 32, had requested time away from the club to be with family and elders in his community.
“Family and community are a huge part of the culture and connection that we are building at the club,” Chief Operating Officer Simon Lethlean said.
“2020 was difficult for many families, with border closures and restrictions impacting everyone differently.
“We look forward to Paddy returning after some time way, energised to attack the 2021 season and ready to contribute strongly to our on-field endeavours.”
ANOTHER BOMBER INJURED LONG-TERM
James Stewart’s new football life as a defender is on hold, with the Bomber set to miss up to 10 weeks with a serious hamstring injury.
The former forward had completed an impressive pre-season before coming from the field in the third quarter of Essendon’s seven-point AAMI Community Series loss to Geelong on Saturday night.
What was originally described as hamstring ‘awareness’ was actually much worse once Stewart underwent scans, Bombers football boss Josh Mahoney said.
“Scans in recent days have unfortunately confirmed a significant hamstring injury for James,” Mahoney said.
“After a very strong pre-season, James was beginning to feel comfortable in the team as a key defender.
“This is his first soft-tissue strain, but we look forward to his recovery and getting him back for still a large portion of the season.”
In better news, recruit Nick Hind (shoulder) is all clear to play in round one as he effectively steps into the role left by fellow speedsters Adam Saad and Conor McKenna.
Stewart, 27, joins fellow key defenders Michael Hurley (hip infection) and Patrick Ambrose (foot/Lisfranc) on the sidelines to start the season.
Jayden Laverde has also switched down back this pre-season after making his name as a forward, while Cale Hooker has gone the opposite way as Essendon begins life without spearhead Joe Daniher.
Jordan Ridley, Aaron Francis, Mason Redman and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher are other tall and medium-sized defenders set to have major responsibility in 2021.
LIONS’ WORST RAYNER FEARS CONFIRMED
The Lions have confirmed the worst for young gun Cam Rayner who will miss the entire 2021 season with a serious knee injury.
The promising 21-year-old looked set for a bumper season with Brisbane following a strong pre-season showing with the club.
However, his 2021 hopes have ended in heartbreak after club doctors confirmed the former No.1 draft pick suffered a ruptured ACL during the Lions AAMI Community Series clash with the Suns on Monday night.
A usual return from an ACL injury is at least six months.
The injury came in the second quarter of Brisbane’s 28-point win when Rayner landed awkwardly on his right knee and fell to the ground, clutching at his leg in pain.
He was immediately assessed and was visibly upset before returning to the bench with his right knee heavily iced.
Lions football manager Danny Daly confirmed the worst on Tuesday and said the club would support him during this time.
“It is terrible news for Cam and really disappointing for the team,” Daly said.
“He will see a surgeon in the coming weeks and we will then lay out the next steps from there.
“Our thoughts are with Cam and we will wrap our arms around him and continue to support him as he gets on with his recovery.”
It’s a big blow ahead of Brisbane’s 2021 campaign, which kicks off in a fortnights’ time.
Rayner was set for a move from half-forward into the midfield this year in a bid to unleash his agility and speed.
“It’s disappointing for him that this has happened … it will build his character though,” Lions head coach Chris Fagan said.
“I know he’ll still continue to lead around our footy club.
“He’ll try and find a way to make the most of this opportunity.
“(His teammates) will be super disappointed for him, there’s no doubt about that but in another way, they’ll probably be inspired to rise to another level.”
The injury is the latest for Brisbane’s casualty ward, which includes Dan McStay and Darcy Gardiner who are both suffering knee injuries as well.
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR SWAN AFTER HEAD KNOCK
Important Swan Callum Mills faces a race against time to be ready for the club’s season opener after being diagnosed with delayed concussion symptoms following Sunday’s game.
Mills suffered a head knock in the second quarter of the 28-point AAMI Community Series defeat to Greater Western Sydney at Giants Stadium.
There are just 13 days between that match and Sydney’s round one clash with Brisbane on Saturday night, March 20.
That leaves little wiggle room for Mills, given the AFL’s new 12-day concussion protocol.
As News Corp revealed with North Melbourne onballer Ben Cunnington’s concussion, players must also complete three training runs with the main group, including one contact session, before playing post-concussion.
The Swans’ head of physiotherapy and medical services, Damian Raper, said Mills would have a “quiet start before building back into training later in the week”.
The 23-year-old, who is transitioning from defence into a full-time midfield role, will need to do those training sessions during his 12-day protocol period to be eligible for selection for the Lions game.
However, All-Australian defender Jake Lloyd (knee sprain) is all but confirmed for round one after sitting out the GWS contest.
Lance Franklin (calf) is still targeting a return in the early rounds, while Robbie Fox (finger) and hardluck ruckman Sam Naismith (knee) are the only other Sydney players out.
Meanwhile, star Giants recruit Jesse Hogan (quadriceps) is unlikely to play at senior level first-up, even if he recovers in time for the season opener.
Lachie Whitfield (bruised liver) could still be as many as six weeks off, while Braydon Preuss and Adam Kennedy (both shoulder) face three to four months more on the sidelines.
The man likely to lead GWS’s ruck division in Preuss’ absence, Matthew Flynn (ankle), is on track to play against St Kilda on Sunday week.
Brent Daniels (hamstring) and Lachie Keeffe (ankle) could also be available.
FRAWLEY TO MISS HUGE CHUNK OF SEASON
St Kilda has confirmed veteran defender James Frawley will miss up to 10 weeks after he injured his hamstring against Carlton last Friday.
Scans have confirmed the former Hawk damaged his hamstring tendon in the first quarter of the AAMI Community series match.
In a major injury blow on the eve of the season, the Saints confirmed on Monday the injury would sideline Frawley for between eight to 10 weeks.
St Kilda’s chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said surgery was not an option for Frawley’s injury.
“This is hugely disappointing for James,” Lethlean said.
“He’s been moving really well over the pre-season, building strength back into his legs after a few niggles late last year.
“Surgery isn’t an option for his specific injury, so James will work closely with our medical and strength and conditioning teams throughout his rehab.
“We know he’ll still have a huge influence on our group off the field as he recovers, however we look forward to getting him back on the park later in the season.”
Frawley joined the Saints at the end of last year after six seasons and 100 games at Hawthorn, following 139 games with Melbourne.
WHICH WOUNDED BLUES WILL FACE TIGERS?
Carlton spearhead Harry McKay is in no doubt for Round 1 despite finishing his second straight contest on the bench with a sore ankle.
The Blues were not prepared to risk McKay after he again rolled his ankle in the loss to St Kilda given they could use a sub to replace him.
Eddie Betts, Matt Kennedy, Liam Stocker and Michael Gibbons all played in a VFL contest on Friday, with Betts kicking two goals in his return from a calf injury.
McKay limped off in the loss to St Kilda for the second game in succession but has two weeks to recover to take on Richmond.
Jack Newnes (ankle) and Jacob Weitering (corked thigh) have pulled up well, while Levi Casboult (knee) and Mitch McGovern (hamstring) have been working towards being available for Round 1.
Carlton will decide on Monday who to elevate as a summer rookie, with Oscar McDonald pushing strongly with a two-goal contest in which he also played ruck and defence.
Geelong’s ruck reinforcements will be ready to take on Adelaide in Round 1 and the Cats are not yet ready to rule out star midfielder Mitch Duncan as he returns from a calf injury.
The Cats narrowly defeated Essendon despite Sam De Koning and Josh Jenkins winning only 12 hit-outs to Essendon’s 41, with Geelong still winning the clearances 32-27.
Rhys Stanley (concussion) and Esava Ratugolea (leg injury) missed the contest for a Geelong side that wants to play a pure ruckman and a ruck-forward.
“Rhys will definitely be available for Round 1. He had a (head) knock last game and had some concussion but, he’s fine. He’s in good spirits, he trained well, he did some training during the week and was very comfortable.
“Esava got a kick in the leg. He is moving well and improving and we didn’t want to take the risk with such a long season with him being an important player who can play ruck and forward. The scans are clear, he just got a kick in the leg and it took a little longer to recover than we first thought.’’
Luke Dahlhaus (groin soreness) is ready to return after a managed summer while Knights said Duncan had finally turned the corner with kicking and change of direction.
He will need a big two weeks of training, but hasn’t yet been ruled out for Round 1.
Essendon is in no hurry to rush Jake Stringer for Round 1 as he builds fitness after an achilles tendon injury.
“We haven’t got a time frame on him, we just want to make sure he is in the best possible position to be able to come in and compete really hard.
“We will continue to build him session by session and get another couple of good weeks of training in now.”
Richmond’s Dion Prestia (hamstring) will be ready for Round 1 without the need to play in a Friday VFL scratch match.
Prestia has been held back in recent weeks and will train and then play against Carlton despite the chance to play in that VFL contest.
Originally published as AFL injury news: Who is fit, who is in doubt for Round 1?
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