https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/af...f/news-story/285eaf6543a0b1ff8cbd8c232585aebe
ST KILDA has been dealt another pre-season injury blow, with defender Ben Paton understood to have broken his tibia and fibula in a freak incident at training on Thursday.
Foxfooty.com.au understands Paton will undergo surgery at The Avenue as early as Friday morning and miss the entire 2020 season.
Assistant coach Jarryd Roughead, who was filling in as a player, tackled Paton as he gave off a handball. Scans later revealed two breaks.
Paton, who played every game for the Saints in 2020 and impressed with his ball use and defensive lock-down ability, ignored trade interest from Essendon last year — as reported by foxfooty.com.au — and re-signed with St Kilda for two seasons.
His suspected injury comes amid a spate of injuries for the Saints one month before Round 1.
Ruck-forward Rowan Marshall suffered a foot injury that will see him miss Round 1. Scans have revealed “early signs of a stress injury”
“To have this happen right before the season is obviously disappointing given Rowan is such an important player in our squad,” Saints chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said.
“Fortunately, we identified the injury very early, Rowan is not in any pain and there’s no fracture to the bone which is a good result.
“These types of injuries are ones that you just need to monitor and take your time with, so we’ll work closely with Rowan to make sure it continues improve so that he can return as soon as possible early in the season.”
Midfielder Zak Jones’ suffered a hamstring injury that’ll sideline him from full training for three weeks.
The Saints this week confirmed Jones, who impressed his maiden 16-game campaign with the Saints last year, sustained a left hamstring strain, with the aim of him being available for the start of the season.
The diagnosis wasn’t as promising for Jones’ young teammate Ryan Byrnes, who’ll be out of action for at least eight weeks.
Byrnes, who played one game in 2020, will undergo surgery on his right hamstring after an training incident last week.
Co-captain Jarryn Geary is expected to be back running in five to six weeks as he continues his recovery from a fractured leg.
GIANTS star and dual best and fairest Lachie Whitfield remains in doubt for his club’s opening-round clash after courage shown during club match simulation led to a “really unusual” injury, according to coach Leon Cameron.
Whitfield earlier this month suffered a bruised liver after backing into a pack during an internal trial match. He reportedly spent over a week in hospital recovering from the incident.
Speaking to SEN Breakfast, Cameron said aerobic beast Whitfield would hopefully start running at some stage over the next couple of weeks, but added he wouldn’t play in any of the club’s pre-season games as it’s unknown when he’ll be allowed to rejoin contact training.
“It was really unusual,” Cameron told SEN Breakfast. “Lachie’s so brave. Playing a bit of match play and just backed into a pack and was a bit sore around the ribs. We scanned him the next day … and we found that he had a bruised liver, which was the first time I’ve ever heard of it.”
“The big thing with Lachie is that he’s taken six or seven days to initially get over the hit and he’s probably not going to play for the next four or five weeks. I can’t say whether he’s going to be ready for Round 1 yet because the doctors and specialists need to see him week by week and see how that bruise on his liver is actually mending.
“He’s in a really good spot the last three or four days, but he could take some really good steps forward in the next couple of weeks but he also could take a couple of steps back. It’s a little unknown.
“He won’t be playing in any of the pre-season games, but Lachie’s fitness base does allow him to step back into our program pretty quickly.”
Cameron also revealed new No. 1 ruckman Braydon Preuss had sent a minor scare through the club after he suffered a shoulder injury earlier this week.
Preuss was traded from Melbourne during last year’s AFL exchange period, filling a ruck chasm at the Giants.
Cameron said Preuss, who stands at 208cm and 112kg, has had an “outstanding pre-season” but, after his recent setback, was booked in to see a specialist on Wednesday afternoon.
“Hopefully it’s not too bad and it’s only a couple of weeks, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Cameron told SEN Breakfast.
GEELONG could be without one of its best players for Round 1, with star midfielder Mitch Duncan suffering a calf setback.
The Cats have an informal scratch match against Collingwood on February 26, before their AAMI Community Series clash against Essendon on March 6. However Cats coach Chris Scott told AFL Media that he’d be surprised Duncan played either of those games.
Scott said Duncan initially had a “minor issue” with his calf before looking likely of returning to full training. But the Cats coach said Duncan had recently “had another minor issue”.
“He’s got a calf that is going to slow him down for the next few weeks,” coach Scott told AFL Media on Tuesday.
“I’d be surprised if, and this is me talking – I’m not the doctor or the head physio – I’d suspect he might miss a bit of the pre-season games which might leave him in a slower position to start the season.
“These things are more complicated than ‘he’s done it twice’.”
Duncan was arguably Geelong’s best player in its Grand Final loss to Richmond last year, polling three Norm Smith medal votes for his one-goal, 25-disposal performance.
Forward Luke Dahlhaus (groin) and ruckman Darcy Fort (knee) also appear in doubt for Round 1, while Sam Simpson is recovering from shoulder surgery.
In better news for Geelong, star recruit Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) confirmed to SEN Breakfast had returned to full training, while defender Tom Stewart (quad) was also due to rejoin the main group this week.
Scott also said superstar Patrick Dangerfield was “on track” for Round 1, ramping up his fitness recently after reporting groin soreness.
Four ADELAIDE players have been ruled out of Saturday’s intraclub match due to injury, including luckless defender Tom Doedee.
The 23-year-old, who’s played just 10 of the Crows’ past 39 games, had re-aggravated a groin injury earlier this week.
“After appearing close to rejoining the main group, Tom has irritated the right groin which had been holding him back for the past fortnight,” Crows football boss Adam Kelly said.
“He will be assessed during the week, after which we will have a clearer picture regarding his return to play date.”
Doedee missed the back-end of Adelaide’s 2020 campaign due to a hamstring injury, while an ACL rupture restricted him to just one game in 2019.
The other three Crows that will miss the internal trial game will be veteran Daniel Talia, free gent acquisition Mitch Hinge and recent draftee Brayden Cook.
Hinge, a former Lion who was picked up by Adelaide as a delisted free agent, earlier this week suffered minor damage to his shoulder, but Kelly said the Crows would be able to make a better return-to-play timelines assessment over the coming week.
Talia, who underwent post-season knee surgery, is increasing his running loads, with the Crows hopeful he’ll be available in the early rounds of the season.
Cook, who was taken at Pick 25 in last year’s draft, hasn’t taken part in contact training yet as he continues his rehabilitation from a shoulder reconstruction last year.
BRISBANE star and reigning Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale this week resumes full training after an injury-interrupted summer.
AFL Media reported Neale had sat out the Lions’ past two intraclub games due to a calf injury suffered at the start of his pre-season, but was due to take part in full match simulation this week.
ST KILDA has been dealt another pre-season injury blow, with defender Ben Paton understood to have broken his tibia and fibula in a freak incident at training on Thursday.
Foxfooty.com.au understands Paton will undergo surgery at The Avenue as early as Friday morning and miss the entire 2020 season.
Assistant coach Jarryd Roughead, who was filling in as a player, tackled Paton as he gave off a handball. Scans later revealed two breaks.
Paton, who played every game for the Saints in 2020 and impressed with his ball use and defensive lock-down ability, ignored trade interest from Essendon last year — as reported by foxfooty.com.au — and re-signed with St Kilda for two seasons.
His suspected injury comes amid a spate of injuries for the Saints one month before Round 1.
Ruck-forward Rowan Marshall suffered a foot injury that will see him miss Round 1. Scans have revealed “early signs of a stress injury”
“To have this happen right before the season is obviously disappointing given Rowan is such an important player in our squad,” Saints chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said.
“Fortunately, we identified the injury very early, Rowan is not in any pain and there’s no fracture to the bone which is a good result.
“These types of injuries are ones that you just need to monitor and take your time with, so we’ll work closely with Rowan to make sure it continues improve so that he can return as soon as possible early in the season.”
Midfielder Zak Jones’ suffered a hamstring injury that’ll sideline him from full training for three weeks.
The Saints this week confirmed Jones, who impressed his maiden 16-game campaign with the Saints last year, sustained a left hamstring strain, with the aim of him being available for the start of the season.
The diagnosis wasn’t as promising for Jones’ young teammate Ryan Byrnes, who’ll be out of action for at least eight weeks.
Byrnes, who played one game in 2020, will undergo surgery on his right hamstring after an training incident last week.
Co-captain Jarryn Geary is expected to be back running in five to six weeks as he continues his recovery from a fractured leg.
GIANTS star and dual best and fairest Lachie Whitfield remains in doubt for his club’s opening-round clash after courage shown during club match simulation led to a “really unusual” injury, according to coach Leon Cameron.
Whitfield earlier this month suffered a bruised liver after backing into a pack during an internal trial match. He reportedly spent over a week in hospital recovering from the incident.
Speaking to SEN Breakfast, Cameron said aerobic beast Whitfield would hopefully start running at some stage over the next couple of weeks, but added he wouldn’t play in any of the club’s pre-season games as it’s unknown when he’ll be allowed to rejoin contact training.
“It was really unusual,” Cameron told SEN Breakfast. “Lachie’s so brave. Playing a bit of match play and just backed into a pack and was a bit sore around the ribs. We scanned him the next day … and we found that he had a bruised liver, which was the first time I’ve ever heard of it.”
“The big thing with Lachie is that he’s taken six or seven days to initially get over the hit and he’s probably not going to play for the next four or five weeks. I can’t say whether he’s going to be ready for Round 1 yet because the doctors and specialists need to see him week by week and see how that bruise on his liver is actually mending.
“He’s in a really good spot the last three or four days, but he could take some really good steps forward in the next couple of weeks but he also could take a couple of steps back. It’s a little unknown.
“He won’t be playing in any of the pre-season games, but Lachie’s fitness base does allow him to step back into our program pretty quickly.”
Cameron also revealed new No. 1 ruckman Braydon Preuss had sent a minor scare through the club after he suffered a shoulder injury earlier this week.
Preuss was traded from Melbourne during last year’s AFL exchange period, filling a ruck chasm at the Giants.
Cameron said Preuss, who stands at 208cm and 112kg, has had an “outstanding pre-season” but, after his recent setback, was booked in to see a specialist on Wednesday afternoon.
“Hopefully it’s not too bad and it’s only a couple of weeks, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Cameron told SEN Breakfast.
GEELONG could be without one of its best players for Round 1, with star midfielder Mitch Duncan suffering a calf setback.
The Cats have an informal scratch match against Collingwood on February 26, before their AAMI Community Series clash against Essendon on March 6. However Cats coach Chris Scott told AFL Media that he’d be surprised Duncan played either of those games.
Scott said Duncan initially had a “minor issue” with his calf before looking likely of returning to full training. But the Cats coach said Duncan had recently “had another minor issue”.
“He’s got a calf that is going to slow him down for the next few weeks,” coach Scott told AFL Media on Tuesday.
“I’d be surprised if, and this is me talking – I’m not the doctor or the head physio – I’d suspect he might miss a bit of the pre-season games which might leave him in a slower position to start the season.
“These things are more complicated than ‘he’s done it twice’.”
Duncan was arguably Geelong’s best player in its Grand Final loss to Richmond last year, polling three Norm Smith medal votes for his one-goal, 25-disposal performance.
Forward Luke Dahlhaus (groin) and ruckman Darcy Fort (knee) also appear in doubt for Round 1, while Sam Simpson is recovering from shoulder surgery.
In better news for Geelong, star recruit Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) confirmed to SEN Breakfast had returned to full training, while defender Tom Stewart (quad) was also due to rejoin the main group this week.
Scott also said superstar Patrick Dangerfield was “on track” for Round 1, ramping up his fitness recently after reporting groin soreness.
Four ADELAIDE players have been ruled out of Saturday’s intraclub match due to injury, including luckless defender Tom Doedee.
The 23-year-old, who’s played just 10 of the Crows’ past 39 games, had re-aggravated a groin injury earlier this week.
“After appearing close to rejoining the main group, Tom has irritated the right groin which had been holding him back for the past fortnight,” Crows football boss Adam Kelly said.
“He will be assessed during the week, after which we will have a clearer picture regarding his return to play date.”
Doedee missed the back-end of Adelaide’s 2020 campaign due to a hamstring injury, while an ACL rupture restricted him to just one game in 2019.
The other three Crows that will miss the internal trial game will be veteran Daniel Talia, free gent acquisition Mitch Hinge and recent draftee Brayden Cook.
Hinge, a former Lion who was picked up by Adelaide as a delisted free agent, earlier this week suffered minor damage to his shoulder, but Kelly said the Crows would be able to make a better return-to-play timelines assessment over the coming week.
Talia, who underwent post-season knee surgery, is increasing his running loads, with the Crows hopeful he’ll be available in the early rounds of the season.
Cook, who was taken at Pick 25 in last year’s draft, hasn’t taken part in contact training yet as he continues his rehabilitation from a shoulder reconstruction last year.
BRISBANE star and reigning Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale this week resumes full training after an injury-interrupted summer.
AFL Media reported Neale had sat out the Lions’ past two intraclub games due to a calf injury suffered at the start of his pre-season, but was due to take part in full match simulation this week.
