KEY DEFENDER Sam Frost is now expected to be sidelined until at least June, due to a toe injury.
Elite performance manager Dave Misson said Frost’s injury was set to take a little longer than first anticipated.
“It was scanned and there was a little crack in it, so he’s going to have to be non-weight bearing for three weeks and it’ll take at least that period of time to get going and come back to play,” he told Dee TV.
“He’s probably at best six [weeks] and possibly eight [weeks].”
Misson said Frost suffered the fractured toe during last Saturday’s loss to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
“Frosty tried to get going after the quarter-time huddle and felt really sore in one of his toes,” he said.
Misson said tough-nut Jack Viney was making progress, even though he was set to miss another four to six matches with his fractured fibula, which he sustained in round two against GWS in Canberra.
“Jack’s going pretty well. He’s not running yet, but every day he’s getting better and we probably expect him to start having a bit of a trot next week,” he said.
“But he’s working hard off legs and doing all the right things.”
Second-year Demon Jayden Hunt is edging closer to return after a layoff with a back injury, according to Misson.
“Essentially, Jayden is now starting footy training and because he’s had a bit of an extended period of time off, he’ll probably need three weeks of footy before he plays,” he said.
“He’s going pretty well, so we’re hoping to see him out on the field pretty soon.”
Misson said Jack Trengove (foot) and Christian Petracca (knee) were “working away at their programs”, after suffering long-term injuries.
“Christian’s coming into a pretty solid strength phase now and he’ll probably look to run in four to six weeks. They’re really starting to smash the weights down at the gym,” he said.
“Trenners is working really hard off legs and getting a bit creative with what we do with him, and he’s taking on every challenge really well. Those guys are going well.”
Misson said Melbourne’s squad was now adapting to the routine of the season proper after its pre-season campaign.
“Home and away games are very different to pre-season games and we’ve had three of those now,” he said.
“The boys are starting to really get a feel as to what AFL footy is week in, week out with the new season.
“We’re really looking forward to Friday night and hopefully we’ll produce a good performance.”
Meanwhile, first-year Demon Alex Neal-Bullen played his first match of the year – at any level – last weekend, when he lined up for Casey in the AFL Victoria Development League.
Misson said it was an encouraging return, after he overcame a dislocated knee.
“He played about 50 minutes in the [AFL Victoria] Development [League]. He kicked a goal with his first kick, but more importantly pulled up really well,” he said.
“He’ll play more game time this week and keep progressing from there.”
Melbourne injury list: round four
Sam Frost (toe) – 6-8 weeks
Jayden Hunt (back) – 3 weeks
Christian Petracca (knee) – season
Jack Trengove (foot) – season
Jack Viney (fibula) – 4-6 weeks
