AFL injury news: All the latest updates from round 8
Despite missing the trip to Perth, Bombers big man Sam Draper is expected to make his return to the top level in time for Essendon’s upcoming blockbuster with GWS.
Essendon expects Sam Draper and Jye Caldwell will be available for Saturday’s early-season test against Greater Western Sydney as Brad Scott said his ruckman’s “disrespectful” podcast antics didn’t result in his absence against West Coast.
Scott admitted he effectively managed Draper given a sore knee that has hampered his form, saying he had not been ruled out by the club’s medicos.
Inside midfielder Caldwell was subbed out with a tight calf in the third quarter but Scott was determined to show caution rather than risk him given Ben Hobbs was waiting to be subbed into the contest.
Scott has been determined to pick a fit and in-form team in his tenure at Essendon rather than risk players, allowing Todd Goldstein to ruck one out in the six-point victory over West Coast.
With the VFL team having a bye, Elijah Tsatas and Dylan Shiel were unable to push their selection claims over the weekend with Draper set to return against Kieren Briggs.
“Did we manage Drapes? Medically his knee wasn’t enough to say he can’t play,” Scott said.
“He didn’t get ruled out from a medical perspective but I went through this with him last year and wanted to break the cycle. That would suggest the knee is fine but I wanted to break the cycle.
“(Caldwell) just had some calf tightness and said I am absolutely fine, just a bit tight, but he’s a really important player for us. He started the third quarter and felt fine but we had a like-for-like player in Hobbs as the sub and out of an abundance of caution subbed him off. Indications are he will be no problem next week.”
TRIO OF BLUES IN MIX TO RETURN FOR NEXT BLOCKBUSTER CLASH
- Ronny Lerner
Carlton coach Michael Voss forecast a host of key players could return for the Blues’ blockbuster clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Thursday night.
Mitch McGovern (hamstring), Jack Martin (hamstring) and Caleb Marchbank (back) will all be in the mix to face the Demons, and after experiencing a hard time in the medical room recently, Voss was “absolutely” encouraged by how many members of his best 22 were coming back from injury.
Adam Cerra (hamstring) and David Cuningham (calf) also made their returns on Friday night in the Blues’ agonising loss to Collingwood at the MCG.
“We’ll separate the two because you’ve got to look at your system and sort of say, ‘Where does the system need to improve? And what phase of the game is that that we need to get after it to continue to reinforce about the way we want to play in these types of games?’,” Voss said.
“And then there’s the talent that helps your system get better and obviously having some guys to be able to add into that helps your system be able to execute that little bit better.
“So hopefully there’s a couple more to return next week.”
Adam Saad (hamstring), Jesse Motlop (hamstring) and Lachie Fogarty (wrist) still remain at least another couple of weeks away.
More Coverage
First year wrap, contract latest: Where 2023 draft’s top 30 sit
With season two ahead, check out how the top 30 players picked in the 2023 AFL Draft are tracking — including a contract update.
Call for Newman’s AFL honours to be reviewed after neo-Nazi guests
Sam Newman drew condemnation for inviting neo-Nazis on his podcast. An activist believes the AFL and Geelong need to reconsider his Hall of Fame and legend status, and Newman has hit back.