Shannen Lange sent to hospital for check up after blow to eye

Winless Sale is breathing a sigh of relief with its superstar midfielder cleared of serious injury.

Sale superstar Shannen Lange has been cleared of serious damage to his eye socket following an accidental blow from a Warragul opponent in their Gippsland league clash on Saturday.

The dual Trood Award and Rodda Medal winner took no further part in the match following the second quarter incident and went to hospital for precautionary assessments.

Sale coach Jack Johnstone said Lange planned to play next round as the Magpies aim to kickstart their faltering season with victory against Drouin, which has also made a 0-3 start to 2025.

“He was cleared of any fractures to the orbital bone,” Johnstone said.

“He’s got follow-up scans with an optometrist to see if there are any cuts on the eye.

“But he’s planning on playing this week.

“There was no malice in it at all.

“The Warragul player just stuck his hand out to tackle and Shannen stepped the other way.”

Sale's Shannen Lange is helped from the ground after copping a blow to his eye against Warragul. Picture: Warren ‘Wazshots’ Leyden

Warragul’s Tom Hobbs wasn’t reported at the time of the incident, but was booked during the halftime break and sent from the ground at the start of the third term.

The incident was graded as high contact with medium impact and Hobbs can take a one-match penalty with an early guilty plea.

Warragul can also contest the charge at the tribunal.

Deniliquin’s star recruit Cooper Willoughby hasn’t been so fortunate in dodging a long-term injury.

Scans late last week confirmed he will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his knee from the clash against Finley on Good Friday.

Willoughby has returned to the Murray league club from Echuca and kicked 12 goals in the opening two rounds.

Jydon Neagle has been grounded with a calf injury at his new club South Mildura. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

New South Mildura coach Jydon Neagle has been grounded with a calf injury he sustained in the pre-season.

He has missed the opening three rounds of the Sunraysia league including last Saturday’s 73-point loss to top-placed Robinvale-Euston.

South Mildura is 0-3 along with Merbein, who was coached to a flag by Neagle’s late father Merv.

Former Port Adelaide player Tom Clurey hurt his knee in his second outing for Goulburn Valley club Shepparton Bears on Saturday night with scans in coming days to reveal the full extent of the damage.

Clurey has played the last two matches for Shepparton due to Katamatite having back-to-back byes in the Picola District league.