AFL Hurt Locker: Latest injury updates out of round 13 of the 2022 season

Melbourne’s premiership defence has been dealt another significant blow, with Max Gawn looking at an extended stint on the sidelines.

Melbourne’s premiership defence has been dealt another significant blow with captain Max Gawn set for an extended stint on the sidelines with a syndesmosis injury.

The injury suffered in Monday’s Queen’s Birthday’s clash at the MCG is set to keep the star Demons’ ruckman out for between three to five weeks.

Gawn had experienced back and ankle soreness in the loss to Collingwood with scans confirming the ankle injury.

But the Demons said Gawn’s ankle area was stable and the injury did not require surgery.

“Max had a left ankle concern during the game and, while he managed to battle through, was quite sore afterwards,” Melbourne’s general manager of performance Alan Richardson said.

“He had some scans on Tuesday, which unfortunately showed some ligament damage.

“Max will be in a moonboot until early next week and will then begin his structured rehabilitation program.

“It’s obviously disappointing that we will be without our leader for the next three to five weeks, but we’re hopeful it’ll be a relatively quick recovery for Max, and he won’t miss too much footy.”

Gawn’s injury blow comes on the back of three straight losses for the Demons and last week’s drama following the altercation between Steven May and Jake Melksham.

The Demons also recently lost key forward Tom McDonald to a lisfranc foot injury.

Meanwhile, the Demons also confirmed Daniel Turner suffered facial fractures in the loss to Collingwood and will require surgery,

He was subbed out of the match in the third quarter under concussion protocols.

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Max Gawn is set for a stint on the sidelines. Picture: Getty Images

DUSTY UNLIKELY AS BLUES LOOK FOR FIRST GAMER

Russell Gould

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has all but ruled out superstar Dustin Martin from Thursday’s blockbuster showdown with Carlton as he continues to battle illness.

Meanwhile Dustin Martin didn’t train with his teammates on Monday and was absent again on Wednesday morning as Hardwick confirmed he hadn’t recovered sufficiently enough from the “lurgy” which was keeping him away from the club.

His absence would be a hammer blow for Richmond who are looking to turn the tables on Carlton after a 25-point loss in the opening round of the season, ending an 11-match

Tigers winning streak in clashes between the two teams. But in better news star forward Tom Lynch is set to resume for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury in Round 9.

“I trained strongly yesterday so I’ll be putting my hand up to play,” Lynch said.

Lynch booted 31 goals in his first nine games including two in the season-opening clash between the two teams, which Carlton won by 25-points.

Meanwhile, 15 days after arriving at Carlton mid-season draftee Sam Durdin will make his Blues debut on Thursday against Richmond at the MCG in front of up to 70,000 people.

Durdin, who played 22 games for North Melbourne after his AFL debut in 2017, was working on a construction site in South Australia before being drafted out of SANFL club Glenelg.

The 26-year-old defender, who played his first VFL game for the Blues last weekend, will step up in the absence of Caleb Marchbank who has to undergo knee surgery on a lateral meniscus tear.

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps will also play his 150th game in the clash with the Tigers with the Blues looking to make it back-to-back wins against Richmond after ending an 11-game losing streak in Round 1.

Dustin Martin is expected to miss this week’s clash with Carlton. Picture: Getty Images

BLUE’S ROTTEN LUCK AS GAWN IN MOON BOOT

Marc McGowan

Carlton defender Caleb Marchbank’s fairytale AFL return last Friday night has had an all-too-familiar bitter ending.

After waiting 1069 days to play his 49th career game against Essendon, Marchbank is back on the sidelines after undergoing more surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in one of his knees.

The 25-year-old defender finished the Bombers game, but underwent a medical assessment on Monday after reporting some knee discomfort.

The Blues suffered a double blow out of the match, with star midfielder Adam Cerra (low-grade hamstring injury) also out for the next fortnight.

Caleb Marchbank hadn’t played for more than 1000 days. He’ll now miss up to another two months of footy. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Marchbank is expected to miss up to eight weeks, with Blues head of football Brad Lloyd saying everyone at the club would rally around him.

“Caleb is understandably really disappointed, as we are as a footy club, given how hard we all know Caleb has worked to get himself back and ready to play at the elite level,” Lloyd said.

“Caleb has had more than his fair share of bad luck, which makes this news tough to hear, but as we all saw on Friday night, he is more than capable of performing at the level.

“All we can do is support him through this period of his recovery. We have no doubt the Carlton faithful will do the same.”

Jack Ziebell was in the wars against the Giants. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, North Melbourne will be without captain Jack Ziebell for at least the next month, after he sustained a facial fracture in the final term of Sunday’s defeat to the Giants.

The 31-year-old had played every game this season but will have an operation on Wednesday.

“Jack was simply unlucky late in the game on Sunday,” Kangaroos general manager of football performance Dan McPherson said.

“We thoroughly considered all options and decided surgery was the best way forward for Jack, as it will mean a shorter timeline for his recovery.”

Ziebell will need surgery on his damaged eye. Picture: Michael Klein

Dees sweat on Gawn

—Glenn McFarlane

Melbourne is sweating on the results of back and ankle scans of wounded skipper Max Gawn as the Demons look to recharge their batteries ahead of a blockbuster MCG clash with Brisbane on Thursday week.

As the Demons limp to their bye break off the back of a third successive loss, Gawn went in for an assessment on Tuesday of his back and ankle soreness that was on show in the club’s Queen’s Birthday fade out against Collingwood.

Max Gawn is sore in a few different areas. Picture: Getty Images

Coach Simon Goodwin confirmed after Monday’s game that Gawn, who was in a moon boot on Tuesday, had been sore in a few different areas and would relish four days away from the club.

“The four days off have come at a good time for Max,” Goodwin said. “I’m sure he will head down to Blairgowrie and sit in front of the fire.

“He has a pretty sore back and a pretty sore ankle and a few knocks, but he’ll be right. He’ll bounce back.”

Gawn’s scans will determine whether he is right to take on the Lions in what now looms as a crucial game for the Demons.

The quick turnaround from Queen’s Birthday to the Lions’ clash has ended the chances of first-gamer Daniel Turner remaining in the team.

Turner went off with concussion against the Magpies, ruling him out under the 12-day AFL concussion protocols.

But Harrison Petty will be right after he passed a concussion test on Monday, while James Harmes is also believed to be all-clear after being winded during the Collingwood.

Steven May will resume from his club-imposed suspension against the top-of-table Lions, with Goodwin saying the club was eager to get the defender back in the team for the first time since his punch-up with teammate Jake Melksham last Sunday week.

The Demons will monitor Melksham later in the week to determine when he can resume in the VFL after having surgery on his infected hand.

Meanwhile, Hawks defender Sam Frost is set to miss at least a month after hurting the cartilage on his knee.

Darcy Gardiner could be sidelined for more than a month.

Lion could miss five with lung issue

—Russell Gould

Brisbane Lions key defender Darcy Gardiner could miss up to five weeks of football after being forced into hospital to have fluid removed from his lungs following a heavy knock in last Saturday’s win over St Kilda.

Gardiner was still in hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday morning and has also suffered fractured ribs after landing awkwardly on his back in the third quarter of the game at the Gabba.

The 26-year-old somehow played out the match but was taken to hospital straight after for treatment after feeling “a bit crook”.

“(Gardiner) went for an aerial ball and landed quite awkwardly on his back,” Lions football manager Danny Daly confirmed on Tuesday.

“Initial signs were he was OK but after the game he felt a bit crook so we took him off to hospital and unfortunately he has some fluid on his lungs.

“He has that drained out on Sunday. he’ll come out of hospital later today but at this stage he’ll miss four to five weeks with a rub fracture.”

It comes as all Brisbane players will get four days off ahead of a bye this weekend, with the Lions on top of the ladder ahead of a blockbuster showdown with Melbourne next Thursday, Brisbane’s first game at the MCG since the opening round of the 2020 season.

Whether Lions captain Dayne Zorko plays could be known as soon as next Tuesday after scans revealed he suffered a minor hamstring strain before he was subbed out of last Saturday night’s win over St Kilda in the third quarter.

Daly said they could be in a position to make a call on the skipper by next Tuesday’s main training session, but he could also be given up until game day to prove his fitness.

“He got scanned on Monday, he’s got a very minor strain. There’s a chance he should be right,” Daly said.

“If not, it will just be the one week, a good result out of what looked a bit rough at the start (when Zorko hobbled off the field).

“We won’t risk him at all. Our main training session is on Tuesday. If he’s making progress and has full strength we may give him up to game time.

“If not, we may make the call and rule him out.”

Daly said the players were “looking for the bye” after a tough month of matches with some set to fly to Melbourne to visit family. He said they wouldn’t be restricted in what they could do during their break.

Ankle injury continues to restrict Giant’s running

—Russell Gould

Lachie Whitfield has conceded he’ll have to manage an ongoing ankle issue which could need end-of-surgery but he doesn’t want to miss any more of the “adventurous” football the GWS Giants are playing under interim coach Marc McVeigh.

Returning for the first time since Round 9 in last week’s win over North Melbourne, Whitefield said he “couldn’t run the ks” he would normally but had pulled up well enough to go again in Saturday’s blockbuster clash with the Western Bulldogs.

But Whitfield said his training loads would continue to be impacted by the ankle issue with post-season surgery likely.

“I’ve got an ongoing ankle issue that probably isn’t going to go away for the rest of the year, but it’s manageable,” he said after a recovery session at Bronte on Tuesday.

“I’m just trying to sort through that.

“At this stage probably (will have surgery) but things can change. It felt good on the weekend and I’m probably nursed a bit through the week to get up for the back end.”

Sydney recruit locked into taking on old teammates

—Marc McGowan

There is only one certainty early in the week about the ruck puzzle for Sydney and Port Adelaide — Swans recruit Peter Ladhams will face his old side on Saturday.

Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess what either team is going to do.

Sydney coach John Longmire said on Tuesday that ex-Power big man Ladhams would make the trip to Adelaide Oval as he weighs up potentially playing two ruckmen.

Tom Hickey (toe) is on track to return at AFL or VFL level this weekend but the Swans will welcome back superstar Lance Franklin (suspension) to a forward line that functioned well without him against Melbourne before the bye.

Joel Amartey is the likeliest tall player to make way, with Ladhams a confirmed starter and Sam Reid and Logan McDonald fresh from strong individual performances.

The other complication is Port Adelaide’s No.1 ruckman Scott Lycett (shoulder) remains sidelined and the Power dropped Sam Hayes last week in favour of makeshift big men Jeremy Finlayson and Charlie Dixon.

“I’m not quite sure what our plan is this week, so I’ve probably got to work that out first before I work out what Port is doing,” Longmire said.

“I really don’t know. They’ve gone last week with a different ruck set-up, so we’re not quite sure what we get in that space. What I do know is we will plan for whatever comes our way and get that done.

“There are some teams playing two rucks, some with one ruck and some without a ruck, according to the circumstances, so everyone’s going with different tactics.”

Harry Cunningham (abdominal) and Colin O’Riordan (concussion) are also set to be available, with a squeeze suddenly on for positions in a Sydney side that chased down Melbourne and Richmond — and almost Carlton before that.

Dimma’s big doubt on crook Dusty

—Scott Gullan

A bout of the flu has Richmond superstar Dustin Martin in doubt for Thursday night’s blockbuster against Carlton.

Martin didn’t train with his teammates at Punt Rd on Monday with Tigers coach Damien Hardwick confirming he was “probably doubtful” to line up against the Blues.

“He has a bit of a lurgy at the moment,” Hardwick told AFL 360. “He didn’t train today, he’s not particularly well at the moment as there is a bit of flu going around.

“He’s got a couple of days to get better, hopefully with some medication he gets up and about. He’s probably doubtful I’d say at this stage so we’ll wait and see how he goes.

“He’s a pretty fair beast Dustin, a 30 per cent Dustin Martin is probably still better than most so we’ll give him every opportunity.”

Dustin Martin is in some doubt for the Tigers’ Round 14 clash against Carlton. Picture: Getty Images

Martin played in the Tigers loss to Carlton in Round 1, kicking one goal from 21 possessions. The following week he took personal leave as he struggled to deal with the death of his father.

The three-time Norm Smith Medallist was away from the game for six weeks, returning in Round 8 for Richmond’s victory over Collingwood.

Martin would be a huge loss for the Tigers who find themselves in ninth spot after Collingwood jumped into the top eight following their impressive victory over reigning premier Melbourne in the Queen’s Birthday clash.

Blues give update on hamstrung young gun

—Rebecca Williams

Carlton has confirmed midfielder Adam Cerra suffered a “minor” hamstring injury, ruling him out of Thursday night’s blockbuster against Richmond at the MCG.

The injury is expected to sideline the prized Blue recruit for two weeks, which would also see him miss against his former side Fremantle the following round.

Cerra had two early disposals before he was subbed out of last Friday night’s win over the Bombers.

The 22-year-old has played 11 of Carlton’s 12 games in his first season at the Blues, averaging 23.1 disposals, after joining the club in a high-profile trade last year.

Adam Cerra is unlikely to be available for the Blues’ next clash. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Meanwhile, scans have cleared St Kilda midfielder Zak Jones of damage to his hamstring after hurting it in the Saints’ 21-point loss to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

But Jones will still face a fitness test this week given the Saints’ short turnaround ahead of Friday night’s clash against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.

Jones was ruled out of the contest against the Lions late in the third quarter in a night of carnage for the Saints, who also lost two players to concussion.

Mitch Owens and Daniel McKenzie will both miss at least the next 12 days under the league’s concussion protocols.

Saints‘ skipper Jack Steele is edging closer to a return, listed as being two weeks away from a comeback from his shoulder injury.

Which Blues could replace Cerra?

—Tim Michell

Will Setterfield and Paddy Dow loom as the most likely replacements for injured Blue Adam Cerra.

Blues coach Michael Voss conceded on Friday night Cerra was unlikely to face Richmond on Thursday after being subbed out of the win over Essendon with “hamstring tightness”.

Voss said the Blues would wait on the results of scans to determine the extent of Cerra’s issues but were hopeful it would be minor.

When quizzed on whether Cerra was unlikely to back up on a six-day turnaround, Voss said: “I would have thought so, but I would be genuinely guessing.”

Cerra’s injury could mean another senior opportunity for former No.3 pick Dow, who had 27 disposals in Carlton reserves’ VFL loss to Essendon on Sunday.

Dow had 21 disposals and five tackles in Carlton’s Round 11 loss to Collingwood but was dropped for the match against Essendon.

Setterfield was the leading disposal winner for Carlton in the VFL with 34, while mid-season draftee Will Hayes had 23.

Dow or Setterfield would appear the most likely replacement for Cerra’s centre-square role.

The Blues can strengthen their claims on a top-four berth if they can defeat an in-form Richmond for the second time this season on Thursday.

Dons sweat on Parish corkie

—Michael Randall

Essendon faces an anxious wait on star midfielder Darcy Parish’s corked calf.

Parish suffered the knock early in the Bombers’ 26-point loss to Carlton on Friday night.

He was strapped up and sent forward in a bid to get him through the game, but the ball winner was subbed off in the third quarter.

Coach Ben Rutten assured the 24-year-old had avoided a tear but, were he forced to miss time, the Bombers do have former No.1 pick Andy McGrath poised to return from a groin injury.

“He’s (Parish) pretty good,” Rutten said.

“He had a pretty significant corkie pretty early on in the game and he’s battled through it for a while.

Darcy Parish tried to battle through a corkie, but was forced out. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

“He tried to spend some time forward where hopefully he didn’t have to quite run as much but, in the end, it just got too much for him and he was finding it hard to get around.

“We’ll just have wait to see how it settles.

Corkies, they’ll be pretty sore for about two or three days and then we’ll start to get it movie

“We’ll get a better idea as the week goes on.”

The 24-year-old was replaced by Alec Waterman, who Rutten said “had a bit of an impact for us in that last quarter.”

The 16th-placed Bombers have won just two games in 2022 and face the improved Saints on Friday night.

Power’s call on pair after head clash

—Matt Turner

Port Adelaide expects captain Tom Jonas and young gun Zak Butters to play against Sydney at home next Saturday.

Two days after clashing heads in the 12-point loss to Richmond at the MCG, the Power duo are feeling fine and at this stage will face the Swans.

Port Adelaide’s decision to put the bloodied players back onto the field without them undertaking a 20-minute concussion test provoked external criticism during Thursday night’s game, but on Friday the AFL approved the club’s handling of the situation.

Butters has a small crack in his cheekbone that will not stop him from lining up against Sydney, in what looms as a crunch game for the 5-7 Power.

The club gave the 21-year-old and other Victorians permission to remain interstate to catch up with family for a couple of days at the start of Port Adelaide’s nine-day break.

Originally published as AFL Hurt Locker: Latest injury updates out of round 13 of the 2022 season