WITH Round 1 edging closer and the JLT Community Series about to get underway, Melbourne is in a strong position on-field as just four players remain on the injury list.
Elite Performance Manager David Misson has provided an update on the players sidelined by injury and says the bulk of the rehab group has returned to training.
Steven May and Jake Melksham have both made strong recoveries from their respective hamstring injuries, while co-captains Jack Viney and Nathan Jones should be fit to start the season.
“They are all back in full training,” Misson told Melbourne Media.
“So all of them will play some form of footy next week.
“With three and a half weeks to go until Round 1 you’d like to think they’d be ready to go.”
Melbourne had a high number of players undergo post-season surgery last year, but Misson said the group is now well and truly back on track.
“We’re pretty pleased with where we’re at at the moment,” Misson said.
“We’ve got high-30’s at training and only got a handful in rehab at the moment.”
Mitch Hannan, Kade Kolodjashnij, Jake Lever and Aaron Nietschke are the four players currently recovering from injury.
Injury List:
Mitch Hannan
“Hannan had another arthroscope to his knee in late January, just before we went to camp. He’s obviously taking a little bit longer. He should play before the bye but it will be in the middle of the first half of the season before we see him I’d say.”
Kade Kolodjashnij
“He’s going well. His injury was just a little bit more significant because he had some tendon damage to his adductor. So we’ve purposely taken him a little slower. He’ll probably play Round 1 but it’s more likely to be in the VFL.”
Jake Lever
“Jake Lever is currently overseas in Philadelphia – he gets back on Sunday and apparently he’s going really well over there. He’ll start to ramp up his one-on-one skills in rehab when he gets back. Hopefully he’ll be back training with the main group in about a month.”
Aaron Nietschke
“Aaron Nietschke was operated on on Tuesday after rupturing his ACL two weeks ago.”
