AFL injury news: Liam Jones to miss 10 weeks with double fracture of arm
One of footy’s best comeback stories of 2023 has been dealt a cruel blow, as injury concerns hamper the Bulldogs’ quest to play finals this season.
The Western Bulldogs have been dealt a crushing blow with Liam Jones to miss 10 weeks with a double fracture of his forearm.
The brilliant defensive star will miss most of the rest or all of the home-and-away season after surgery detected a pair of breaks in the bone.
The Dogs will also miss Tim O’Brien for six to eight weeks after his hamstring strain was diagnosed as significant, while Hayden Crozier will miss 8-10 weeks with his own hamstring problem.
Jones has been one of footy’s best comeback stories this year after retiring from Carlton due to vaccine issues and playing football on the Gold Coast with Palm Beach-Currumbin.
He returned to take all before him in the early rounds of the season as a miserly defender who could also intercept mark to repel opposition thrusts.
But he was kicked by North Melbourne’s Paul Curtis as he attempted to soccer the ball off the ground and was subbed out in the Dogs’ victory over the Roos.
A 10-week absence means at best case he might be able to return for the finals series.
The Dogs had assembled an exceptional defensive unit but Ed Richards is still up to a month away with a hamstring strain, while Jason Johannisen is 5-6 weeks away with his own hamstring injury.
The Dogs have some defensive cover with Ryan Gardner likely to return from the VFL, while Josh Bruce is also an option after being dropped after a poor performance against the Western Bulldogs.
Luke Beveridge also has first-year swingman James O’Donnell to call upon but Sam Darcy is still out with a broken jaw for several weeks.
KEY PIE’S RETURN PUSHED BACK BY INFECTION
Collingwood forward Dan McStay’s return could be pushed back up to a month by a finger infection, just as he was preparing to return to Craig McRae’s side.
Former Lions forward McStay had been seen as a likely inclusion against Adelaide on Sunday after surgery to remove a finger tendon during Gather Round.
He jarred the finger ahead of the King’s Birthday game against Melbourne and it caused an infection that has now needed treatment.
McStay has played only five games for the Pies for 3.3 but given their injuries to key talls and ruckmen he would have been a valuable contributor in the past two months.
The Pies were soundly beaten by Melbourne’s intercept talls on King’s Birthday despite Brody Mihocek’s efforts but will again have to wait for McStay’s influence on the field.
Nathan Kreuger kicked five goals in the VFL in the week before the bye so could be considered against Adelaide.
Collingwood will hope Jamie Elliott (shoulder) is available to take on Adelaide, but Jack Ginnivan was a late out against Melbourne.
The Pies had initially suggested Ginnivan had been managed but after admitting he was dropped he will have to find his way back into the senior side through the VFL.
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