AFL injury news 2024: North Melbourne’s Brayden George does ACL in the VFL

After recovering from serious elbow and shoulder injuries during his time at North Melbourne, highly-talented young gun Brayden George has torn his ACL playing in the VFL.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 14: Liam Henry of the Saints on the sideline during the round 14 AFL match between Brisbane Lions and St Kilda Saints at The Gabba, on June 14, 2024, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

North Melbourne’s No.26 draft pick Brayden George has torn his ACL in another devastating setback for the talented swingman.

George’s knee crumpled while playing forward in the VFL on Sunday and the Herald Sun has confirmed scans on Sunday revealed the damage.

George arrived at North Melbourne having had a knee reconstruction in his final draft year that pushed him out of top ten calculations.

The Roos basically put him on ice in his first season with the club in 2023 and then when he was working hard in the off-season he dislocated his elbow while attempting a box jump in the gym.

Brayden George, second from left, has torn his ACL. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

This year, he dislocated his shoulder in a VFL contest but had returned to play forward in recent weeks after building strength in the joint.

Now, he will face another year on the sidelines at a club that is desperately attempting to build its depth in key position spots.

The powerful 187cm talent will hope he can finally get a decent run at his career when he returns next year but it has been a shocking start so far.

The Roos are intent on returning key back Griffin Logue to the VFL this week after his round 17 ACL tear.

They hope they can build an imposing backline that includes Logue, 2024 revelation, Aidan Corr and last year’s draftee Will Dawson.

Dawson recently made his AFL debut but is out for six weeks with a shoulder issue after injuring himself while playing forward against West Coast.

Relief for Suns with King cleared after ACL scare

– Glenn McFarlane

Gold Coast is breathing a huge sigh of relief after gun forward Ben King was cleared of a serious knee injury after a training incident on Saturday.

The joint Coleman Medal leader leading into this round, King was training with the group after a few days off due to the bye when he injured the opposite knee to the one he had missed a full season with back in 2022.

Initial testing indicated King’s ACL was intact with subsequent scans confirming that.

The 23-year-old has bone bruising but Suns officials are still hopeful he can resume training this week and make the trip to Perth to take on Fremantle next weekend.

Ben King has been sent for scans. Picture: Getty Images

The Suns are in the midst of their bye weekend, having just returned to training after giving the team four days off earlier in the week.

King missed the entire 2022 season after suffering an ACL, but he returned last year to play 20 games, kicking 40 goals.

He was on track to smash through that figure - and his career best tally of 47 from 2021 - this season, having kicked 38.13 from his 13 games, the same tally as Carlton’s Charlie Curnow leading into round 14.

SAINTS CONFIDENT AFTER LATE HENRY SCARE

— Josh Barnes

St Kilda is confident livewire Liam Henry will be fit to face Port Adelaide after the club’s bye as Mattaes Phillipou put his hand up for a return with his best VFL outing of the year.

Henry rolled his ankle late in Friday night’s loss in Brisbane, having provided the Saints with a spark after moving into the midfield in the second half.

The recruit had seven disposals and kicked two goals in an electric final term as St Kilda threatened to pinch the win but then injured his ankle in the final minutes.

Henry’s ankle felt strong on Saturday and he should be able to use next weekend’s bye to get it right and face Port Adelaide in round 16.

Liam Henry is assessed late in St Kilda’s loss to Brisbane Lions. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Saints coach Ross Lyon said after the game he was hopeful there would be limited damage to the speedster.

“Sometimes they cool down and they are not but we are pretty optimistic he will be okay,” Lyon said.

St Kilda will be forced to weigh up a return for youngster Phillipou after he racked up 28 disposals and booted a goal in his fifth VFL appearance on the trot.

Ryan Byrnes and Ben Paton both grabbed 25 disposals for the Zebras, while Tim Membrey kicked two goals from four touches.

Darragh Joyce (31 disposals), Jaxon Prior (28) and Dev Robertson (25) led the way for the Lions in a comfortable 57-point win.

One of four sides still waiting for a break, the bye has come at the right time for the Saints, who carried several sore bodies through the first 14 rounds.

Midfielder Brad Crouch remains out of action and didn’t play at any level this weekend as he battles a grumbly knee.

Originally published as AFL injury news 2024: North Melbourne’s Brayden George does ACL in the VFL