Melbourne’s James Harmes will miss six weeks after breaking his wrist but Jack Viney should return

A Round 1 win for Melbourne came at a heavy cost with one injury, but the playing depth at the Demons has left coach Simon Goodwin buzzing.

Melbourne’s James Harmes is out for six weeks with a broken wrist. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

James Harmes played out the second half of Melbourne’s Round 1 win over Fremantle with a broken wrist while the medical sub sat on the bench unused in an ironic twist to the new rule.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin revealed Harmes would be out for six weeks after feeling sore on Sunday, and subsequent scans showed a fracture in his scaphoid bone.

Harmes was “sore” after hurting his wrist just before half time at the MCG on Saturday, but not sore enough for Goodwin to call on Kane Chandler, who sat the entire game on the bench.

“(Harmes) had the injury just after half time. The docs said with the scaphoid, sometimes they get a lot sorer the day after, that was the case with him,” Goodwin said on Wednesday.

“He had that pinned and he’ll be back in six weeks.”

Goodwin conceded it was “tough” on Chandler, one of four medical subs who didn’t get to play. The decision now looms what to do with him this week.

“All clubs will be going through a similar situation now. Do we play him in a game of footy or do we make him the sub again?” Goodwin said.

“He’s in the frame for selection. He missed a game of footy but he is right there ready to go.”

Injury news: James Harmes is expected to miss six weeks after a fractured wrist.

Jack Viney is on track to return.

— Melbourne Footy (@MelbourneFooty) March 24, 2021

Squeezing Chandler into a winning team could be hard, with vice-captain Jack Viney set to return after playing in a VFL practice match last week.

Viney had surgery to relieve foot soreness in late January and came back through the VFL with other senior players, including Jake Melksham and Michael Hibberd.

But Viney looms as the only inclusion to play St Kilda on Saturday night.

“We probably see Viney as a potential change this week, he’s our vice-captain, we think he’s fit and ready. But the others will probably have to wait a while,” Goodwin said.

“They all went really well. It’s great we are starting to get some players back. But it’s tight for spots. We think Jack has done enough work.

“There is no rush. We think we have depth on our list … the senior players are going to have to earn it.

“It’s been a while since we have been in that position and I like it. Young guys are taking opportunities, we feel like we have good balance in our team.

“But it means guys in the team are going to have to perform to a high level.”

Midfielder Angus Brayshaw also sent a scare through the camp when he limped off the training track with what looked a foot issue before returning to complete the session.

Originally published as Melbourne’s James Harmes will miss six weeks after breaking his wrist but Jack Viney should return