AFL 2024: Pre-season injury news, Kaine Baldwin’s stress fracture; Magpie Harry DeMattia and Hawthorn’s Will Day to miss start of 2024 season
A luckless young Bomber is set for another stint on the sidelines after a cruel injury crippled a strong pre-season, while a Pies draftee and Hawks gun have been ruled out of Round 1.
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Emerging Essendon defender Kaine Baldwin is facing an extended period on the sidelines after scans revealed a bone stress fracture in his foot.
Baldwin experienced discomfort in his foot following training on Wednesday and scans have since confirmed a navicular bone stress fracture.
Essendon said the luckless Baldwin, who suffered two ACL injuries before he joined the Bombers, would not bear any weight on his foot in the short-term, before commencing rehab in coming weeks.
A timeline for Baldwin’s return will not be determined until he gets through the initial rest and early rehab period.
Baldwin had been training strongly during the pre-season, and was part of the group which headed to Arizona for a player-led training camp before Christmas.
PIES DRAFTEE, HAWKS STAR RULED OUT OF ROUND 1
Hawthorn reigning best and fairest winner Will Day has officially been ruled out of the club’s round 1 clash with Essendon next month.
The Hawks have not yet got clarity in terms of a return timetable for the midfielder who was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot in the first week of training back after Christmas.
It’s a blow for coach Sam Mitchell and the Hawks as they look to reverse the round 1 result against the Bombers last season.
It is understood Day is still in a moon boot and the Hawks are taking a conservative approach to his recovery, determined to ensure the issue won’t affect him later in the season.
The 22-year-old had a breakout 2023 season when he successfully moved from defence to the midfield and held off fellow mid Jai Newcombe to win his maiden Peter Crimmins Medal.
The Hawks take on the Bombers on March 16, which will make it too tight for Day to prove his fitness, with the possibility that he might yet miss the first four weeks of the season.
Hawthorn will continue to monitor Day’s progress in the coming weeks and will look to integrate a handful of possible short-term replacements to his role in the coming weeks.
The Hawks will play Western Bulldogs in a match-simulation hitout with Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on February 23.
Among those players who could step in for Day include Josh Ward, Cam Mackenzie, Dylan Moore and Connor Macdonald.
Day and Wingard (achilles) are the two players already ruled out for the start of the season, with Seamus Mitchell (jaw) and Bailey Macdonald (leg) still considered a chance to prove their fitness in time to be considered for the Bombers’ clash.
FORMER CRICKET STAR’S PIES DEBUT DELAYED
Collingwood’s No. 25 draft pick Harry DeMattia will miss up to two months of his debut season after damaging a finger tendon, just as he was pushing for senior selection.
Collingwood footy boss Graham Wright confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that DeMattia was facing three months on the sidelines.
“He will see a specialist tomorrow (Thursday), it looks like a tendon injury to his ring finger,” Wright said.
“It looks like he will have an operation tomorrow, he will see the specialist in the morning, and if that’s the case it will be tomorrow afternoon and potentially miss about 8-12 weeks.”
It is a blow for the former cricketer who chose football late in his draft year.
DeMattia has impressed the club with his composure and professionalism and as he attempts to break into the Collingwood team that won last year’s AFL premiership.
He represented Australia in cricket at the under-19 level, as well as spending time running the drinks for the national team at the Boxing Day test while also captaining Vic Country and the Dandenong Stringrays.
Collingwood sees DeMattia starting his career as a high halfback who can move into the midfield in a draft crop that also includes the impressive No. 37 pick Tew Jiath, the brother of Hawthorn’s Changkuoth Jiath.
Collingwood head of development Josh Fraser said earlier this month that DeMattia had already set an impressive standard at the Pies.
“Harry has had some exposure at top-level sport through the pathways system, so he’s come in with some understanding of what it looks like,” Fraser said.
“He’s come in, and his character is exceptional and he’s such a diligent hard worker. He wants to continue to get better everyday. He has made a terrific start. He’s certainly a guy who has set the agenda pretty early that he wants to be a great player for the club.
“We know that will take time and he has development in front of him, but his mindset and application is there and as a coach that’s all you can ask for. The way he’s setting himself up with his habits – that is the leadership we are seeing. That gives us great confidence as a coaching group he’s going to be fast-tracked in many respects.”
The Pies play in an intraclub on Wednesday, and will clash with North Melbourne in match simulation on February 21, before their official community series fixture against Richmond on February 27. Collingwood opens its AFL season against 2023 preliminary finalist opponent GWS on March 9 at Giants Stadium.
SAINT SIDELINED WITH CONCUSSION, FACIAL FRACTURE
Jon Ralph
Hunter Clark has been hit by an untimely pre-season setback after the Saint was ruled out for a fortnight with a facial fracture and concussion.
The injury-prone top-10 pick had a solid season in 2023, but with Paddy Dow and Liam Henry arriving and Mattaes Phillipou moving into the midfield, spots in the Saints’ round 1 team will be at a premium.
Clark copped an elbow to the head during the club’s intraclub clash last week. He eventually had damage to the orbital bone confirmed but he will not need surgery which would have required extensive time on the sidelines.
St Kilda head of football David Misson said the club was hopeful Clark would return quickly after a torrid run of luck across his AFL career.
“We’re disappointed for Hunter, but are hopeful of a swift recovery,” Misson said.
“As is always the case with any concussion-related setback, we will take a cautious approach and will continue to monitor his progress.”
Clark suffered a severely broken jaw in 2021 in a collision with Adelaide’s David Mackay.
“Hunter has had some terrible luck with numerous setbacks over the past few seasons, however we are backing him in to bounce back in time for round 1,” Misson said.
“Hunter has put together a strong body of work over the past few weeks and has impressed through the midfield this pre-season. We hope this is just a small bump in the road heading into 2024.”
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Originally published as AFL 2024: Pre-season injury news, Kaine Baldwin’s stress fracture; Magpie Harry DeMattia and Hawthorn’s Will Day to miss start of 2024 season
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