MELBOURNE’S Lachie Hunter will spend time on the sidelines after injuring his calf during Round 12.  

GM of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson provided an update on the Demon on Tuesday afternoon.  

“Lachie was experiencing some tightness in his left calf halfway through the second term,” Richardson told Melbourne Media.  

“He was subbed out of the game and following his return to Melbourne, scans confirmed that he had sustained a calf strain that, at this stage, is looking like a four-to-six week injury. 

“This is a different muscle to his previous injury, but the news is equally as disappointing for Lachie, who had worked his way back and only just returned to the team.” 

As the club prepares for its highly anticipated Big Freeze match against Collingwood on Monday, forward Jacob van Rooyen will need to get through training to prove his fitness ahead of the blockbuster clash.  

Van Rooyen was ruled out of Melbourne’s Round 12 match on Sunday after experiencing discomfort in his adductor during main training.  

“Jacob has progressed well and, at this stage, he’s tracking the right way,” Richardson said.  

“His training this week is his test, so if he gets through this week, he’ll be available for selection.”

Marty Hore (calf), Josh Schache (foot) and Jake Lever (knee) are all progressing well through their respective injuries, with a return to play expected following the club’s bye during Round 14. 

In some positive news among the playing group, Jake Melksham will be eyeing a return to full training in the coming weeks, ten months on from suffering an ACL injury.  

“Jake is progressing really well,” Richardson said.  

“We’re looking to get him integrated into full training with the main group following the bye.”  

Charlie Spargo is continuing to work through an Achilles injury that has troubled him in recent weeks.  

“This injury has been a really frustrating one for Charlie and our medical team,” Richardson said.  
 
“We’re really confident we’ve got to the bottom of it and his progression has been tracking the right way.  

“It is hard to put a timeline on it, because as we up the load and intensity, it depends on how his injury responds, which then determines when he’ll be back.” 
 
Check out the full injury list below.