Jackson Thurlow ruled out of 2016 season after ACL injury confirmed

GEELONG defender Jackson Thurlow will sit out the season after scans confirmed he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

SHEPPARTON, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 05: Jackson Thurlow of the Cats reacts after getting carried off with a leg injury during the 2016 AFL NAB Challenge match between the Essendon Bombers and the Geelong Cats at Deakin Resserve on March 5, 2016 in Shepparton, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

GEELONG defender Tom Ruggles says he would be ready to step into any vacancy left by the injured Jackson Thurlow.

Scans have confirmed that Thurlow will miss the rest of the season after his right knee buckled underneath him in a marking contest with former Cat Mitch Brown during a practice match aganst Essendon in Shepparton on Saturday.

In better news for the Cats, midfielder Sam Menegola does not require surgery after injuring his left knee against Collingwood the previous week.

Ruggles, last year’s Geelong VFL best-and-fairest who was then picked up in the rookie draft, said he felt he could fill Thurlow’s spot if called upon by coach Chris Scott.

“Yeah I think I’m ready, personally,” Ruggles said.

“It’s just making sure that I do everything right, learn a lot off the older boys and talk a lot with the coaches to find out how to get better and learn the game plan a bit more.

“Hopefully, if a spot does open up, I can take it.”

The 23-year-old had 15 possessions in his first outing with the AFL team against a virtually non-competitive Essendon on the weekend.

Assistant coach James Rahilly said Ruggles had impressed the Cats’ coaching staff and that he would be on their radar as a replacement for Thurlow.

“I thought Tom was pretty good, his defensive work was good,” Rahilly said.

“His one-on-one stuff, he gave us that rebound, so he could come in … he could be an option for us.”

Jackson Thurlow is stretchered off after injuring his knee on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Thurlow is likely to be added to the long-term injury list leaving scope for Ruggles to be upgraded to the senior list immediately.

Ruggles said he had worked hard over the pre-season on being more defensively conscious.

“I’ve worked a lot with Shane O’Bree on taking my man out and then winning the ball from there, and not trying to gamble and try and win the ball (straight away),” he said.

“Defence-first has been a massive priority for me over the pre-season and everyone else.

“I think I can read the ball pretty well, so fitting into the backline and reading the play, taking my man out and then working off him and trying to get forward and use the ball.”

The Cats’ backline took a hit to its personnel in the second half of last weekend’s game, with Tom Lonergan (ankle) sitting out the second half and Lachie Henderson (knee) taking no part in the final quarter, adding to the absence of Thurlow.

The Cats said injuries to Lonergan and Henderson were not serious, while veteran Andrew Mackie is also expected to be available against Fremantle in Western Australia on Saturday.

Menegola, taken by the Cats at pick 66 in last year’s draft, injured his posterior cruciate ligament but the Cats are confident of an early-season return.

Originally published as Jackson Thurlow ruled out of 2016 season after ACL injury confirmed