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Injury ignites concern for clubs

By Mr Dandalooa

There’s a lot of angst amongst the AFL at the moment with injuries leaving some clubs on edge before the season proper.

Melbourne is hoping explosive forward Liam Jurrah can avoid major surgery after a bevy of injuries put the Demons’ camp on edge this pre-season.

Both Jurrah and Daniel Bell have endured shoulder injuries, which follow a horrid week for Melbourne, not including the weather in Victoria, after Cale Morton was not able to play, possibly for 8 weeks, with a knee injury.

FootyGoss understands Bell will need surgery after injuring acromioclavicular joint, or AC joint in his left shoulder during the first term of the 2-point loss to the Adelaide Crows at Elizabeth on Saturday.

Jurrah also dislocated his right shoulder in the opening quarter and the highly-rated forward had scans on Sunday.

The extent of Jurrah’s injuries are unknown, but team-mate Brad Green reckons he might also need surgery too, adding further insult to the Demons’ woes.

Green said they are “two fairly big losses for us”, but the club covered for them yesterday and hopefully it can cover for them for the start of the season.

“(Jurrah) has never had an injury in his life and dealing with that, maybe dealing with surgery, is going to be something different for him,” Green was reported as saying.

“So we as a club have got to work with him, help him and get him through that.”

This year’s injuries come after another injury riddled season last year for the Demons which saw Austin Wonaeamirri out all last season because of hamstring and knee injuries.

Austin Wonaeamirri however managed an hour of football in a Friday intraclub match at Casey.

Meanwhile, the Western Bulldogs are hopeful skipper Brad Johnson can play St Kilda next weekend.

The ‘Dogs 3-point win over Port Adelaide on Friday ensured the club their first grand final berth of any kind since 1970.

Bulldogs assistant coach Peter Dean said the grand final would be “perfect preparation” for the season proper.

“It’s going to be a bit chaotic with our supporters and that’s great,” he said on AAP this week.

“We’re happy for them to be happy but they’ve got to realise we’re still on a system ... to be successful towards the end of the home and away season.”

Johnson was sidelined during the pre-season because of soreness in the Achilles tendon in his left leg.

However, Dean remains positive the half-forward could play St Kilda, who flogged Fremantle on Saturday night.

“Johnno hasn’t missed a lot of games (through his career) ... and it’s come as a bit of a shock to him, but he’s handled it really well,” Dean said of the veteran.

“He was a little bit flat early but he’s full of beans now ... he’s a chance to come and slot in.

“He’s probably (a chance of) 60-40, 70-30 (to play).”

In another injury saga, Hawthorn’s go-to ruckman Simon Taylor will miss 4 months of AFL action after breaking his leg during Saturday’s 40-point loss to North Melbourne in a trial match.

In that game, Hawks midfielder Brad Sewell suffering a broken collarbone.

Taylor tried to walk off his injury early in the second term of Saturday’s match at North Ballarat, but eventually needed a stretcher.

Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said the number 1 ruckman underwent surgery on Sunday to have a plate inserted to repair a fractured fibula.

He said doctors advised it will be 2 months until Simon can resume activity and it will be around 4 months until he will be available to play again.

Taylor and Sewell also went to hospital in Ballarat on Saturday to have their injuries assessed, as Sewell returned to the Hawks rooms after the match with his right arm in a sling.