Tuesday’s injury reports have dropped with updates on Jordan Ridley, Colby McKercher, Zac Fisher, Tim Taranto, Toby Nankervis, Zane Trew, Liam Duggan, Mattaes Phillipou and many more.
Essendon has confirmed Jordan Ridley will miss 3 weeks due to a hip flexor strain. Dons GM of Football Daniel McPherson said: “Rids felt some discomfort in his hip after a marking contest just prior to half-time. We used the break to assess the injury, which we originally hoped was just a cork, but ultimately, he wasn’t able to continue, and so was subbed out of the game at half-time. Follow-up scans on Sunday morning unfortunately showed a strain to his hip flexor.
“This latest injury is unrelated to his quad injury from earlier in the year, so while it’s still early days, at this stage we’re optimistic he will be available prior to the end of the home and away season.”
North Melbourne head of performance Kevin White offered an update on Colby McKercher (soreness) and Zac Fisher (foot) who missed last games due to injuries.
White said: “Colby pulled up from the Carlton game with high levels of soreness in his legs off the back of some big games at AFL level following his return from bone stress.
“During main training last week, he still had restrictions around his ability to produce speed and high-level function, (so) the decision was made to give him active recovery and rest across the weekend to re-load once again this week.
“Zac had an issue in Round 19 where he felt his plantar fascia stretch in a contest which then pulled up sore. He had a light session on-ground today and will look to prove his high-level function on Thursday.”
GWS have revealed Stephen Coniglio will miss another game but is “progressing well” from a shoulder injury. Josh Kelly (calf) will return to full training this week with a view to playing in Round 22.
Gold Coast confirmed Touk Miller is “at least another week away from being available for selection” following a wrist complaint.
Melbourne’s High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith provided an update on Caleb Windsor, who’s been ruled out with an ankle injury. Griffith said: “At the end of the game in that tackle before the final siren, his ankle got caught under him. Initially, we thought that it may have just been a corkie to his shin or his calf.
“But he presented the next day with some soreness walking and weight bearing, and so we imaged that further which has shown that he’s got a low-grade syndesmosis. Fortunately, it doesn’t require surgical intervention at this stage, so, we’ll look to manage that conservatively to give him an opportunity to play at the back end of this year.”
Koltyn Tholstrup missed last game with concussion. Griffith said: “Koltyn’s going really well. He’s passed all of his other tests, and then will just need to complete a full training session to be available for selection this week.”
Christian Salem is aiming for a Round 22 return from a hamstring injury. Griffith said: “Christian’s progressed really well. He’s done a power of work, he’s a super professional with his recovery.
“He trained today with the group and still had some low-grade awareness with some certain movements, so, we’ll look to continue to progress that over the weekend, to look to have him available for selection next week.”
Richmond have listed Tim Taranto as a test following a back issue that saw him subbed out last game. Tigers Physical Performance Manager Luke Meehan said: “Tim developed a bit of lower back pain early in the game (Round 20). He’s pretty tough, Tim, and he sort of battled along to half-time.
“We thought we’d try and get him to see if he could get going again in the third quarter, and he just wasn’t able to. So, we subbed him out. He’s pulled up pretty well from the game. At this stage we have to see how he trains on Thursday. So, he’s a test.”
The Tigers had good news on ruckman Toby Nankervis following his concussion. Meehan said: “Toby’s feeling really good and he’s looking forward to playing again.”
Jack Graham, who has been used as a tagger prior to a hip flexor injury, is listed as a test too.
There’s good news for Zane Trew who is a chance to play on Friday night for West Coast following a neck injury that saw him subbed out.
Eagles High Performance Manager Mat Inness said: “’Trewy’ at the very first bounce unfortunately got a knock to his neck. He didn’t have any concussion signs so that’s really good news, so it was more the neck we were worried about.
“The docs took a conservative approach as you do with neck injuries and ruled him out of the game. He’s had the scans, there’s no structural damage, so we’re hopeful he’ll be out there on the track on Wednesday but he’s a test for this week.”
Liam Duggan (concussion) and Jeremy McGovern (ribs) are both in line to return, but Tom Barrass and Luke Edwards will both miss having entered concussion protocols.
Inness said: “Liam will be back playing this week. We took an extra week with his concussion so he’s good to go, he’s passed all the tests.”
St Kilda have indicated Mattaes Phillipou is in the mix to return from a hip injury this round. Saints EGM Football David Misson said: “It’s a real credit to our rehab staff and to Mattaes’ professionalism that he’s even close to being in a position to return to play.
“There are still a few boxes to tick at training this week, but we’re hopeful that barring any surprises he’ll play this weekend.”
The Saints have listed tagger Marcus Windhager as being 2 weeks away following a hamstring injury.
