By Andrew Wu and Gemma Grant
In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Injury scares at St Kilda as three players sent for scans
- De Goey remains on sidelines at Collingwood
St Kilda are waiting on the results of star forward Max King’s knee scans after a potentially costly training session on Friday.
Max King was sent from training to have his knee scanned.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Early indications are King has avoided damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, and may he have escaped with a sprained knee, but further assessment will be needed. The Saints are yet to have an official diagnosis, but hope it might come at the weekend.
Star pair Jack Sinclair and Mason Wood were also sent for scans after leaving training early. There are concerns over Sinclair’s hamstring while Wood has an issue with a quad. The Saints do not yet know the severity of the injuries, which come a fortnight out from the club’s first competitive game.
The club’s sensitivity over King’s situation was evident in the wording of their statement.
“We’ll provide further information once we have those results,” the club’s executive general manager of football David Misson said.
“We understand the interest in Max, Mason and Jack, but until we have the scan results, we’re working in hypotheticals which is irresponsible.
“The club will provide an update in due course.”
King has a long history of knee injuries. He ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in his draft year of 2018. Last year, he suffered a season-ending posterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee in June. The Saints have not revealed which knee he has hurt this time.
King, who recently returned to full training, has played 83 of 129 matches since being taken with pick four in the 2018 draft.
The forward last October signed a mammoth eight-year deal keeping him at Moorabbin until the end of the 2032 season.
A serious injury to King would severely test the depth of the Saints’ forward stocks, which have been weakened by the departure of three-time leading goalkicker Tim Membrey to Collingwood after 10 seasons in the red, white and black.
Cooper Sharman improved last year but is yet to show he can hold down a key forward position, while Anthony Caminiti has trained in defence this summer.
Sinclair is close to the best player on the Saints’ list after winning the club’s best and fairest in his All-Australian seasons of 2022-23. His run was broken last year when he finished second to defender Callum Wilkie. Wood, formerly of North Melbourne, has enjoyed a late-career resurgence at the Saints playing as a hard-running winger who can push forward and kick goals.
The Saints have been hit hard by injury after the Christmas break, losing gun youngster Mattaes Phillipou (femur) and Dougal Howard (shoulder) to long-term issues.
Ruckman Rowan Marshall (pelvis) is not in full training, while Liam Henry, Paddy Dow and Hunter Clark are also battling injuries.
De Goey sidelined at training
Gemma Grant
Collingwood star midfielder Jordan De Goey didn’t participate in team training on Friday, only four weeks ahead of the Magpie’s first game of the season.
Jordan De Goey training in July 2024. Credit: Joe Armao
The absence is a concern for the dynamic 28-year-old, who has faced a difficult return from injury. He was sidelined during the 2024 season after scans confirmed that he suffered from a high-grade hamstring injury.
De Goey then undertook specialist treatment in Doha for groin and abdominal issues in the off-season to address ongoing soft-tissue issues.
He faced an injury scare at training on January 29 following a knock to the calf, but scans cleared him of any tear or injury.
Nick Daicos looked fit during Friday’s training session.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Tom Mitchell also sat out of Friday’s session and spent most of the morning running laps. The 31-year-old briefly returned to the main group in January but faced another setback when scans revealed a bone stress injury.
Mitchell hasn’t played a game since last year’s Anzac Day draw against Essendon in round seven.
Meanwhile, young gun Nick Daicos has cast aside any remaining doubts about his fitness, spending the majority of the session training within the main group.
Last year’s club best and fairest looked fit and played well, briefly taking part in some individual tackling training.
He had been previously placed on a modified program during this pre-season to assist in the recovery of plantar fasciitis but was expected to be healthy in time for the opening round.
Collingwood newcomers Dan Houston and Tim Membrey appeared to be fitting into the side as they prepared for their first match wearing black and white. Former Giant Harry Perryman also trained strongly, spending a period playing on ball during match simulation.
Darcy Cameron and Dan McStay handled the majority of rucking duties, while Membrey looked comfortable playing in the key forward role.
This could leave Mason Cox struggling for time on field this season. The American spent most of the session playing with the reserve squad.
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