MELBOURNE’S injury list continues to provide a challenge for the club, as Jordan Lewis and Harry Petty pulled up sore over the weekend.
But in a positive boost for the Demons, Elite Performance Manager David Misson has cleared ruckman Max Gawn of any injury concern, despite plenty of speculation regarding his fitness for Round 1.
“He had a pretty significant skin infection and spent a day in the Epworth Hospital last Tuesday,” Misson told Melbourne Media.
“But he trained fully last Wednesday, so his preparation probably wasn’t ideal, but I don’t think it really affected his performance.”
Continuing the good news, Melbourne recruits Braydon Preuss and Kade Kolodjashnij are back to full fitness after successfully completing a practice match for the Casey Demons on Sunday.
In that same hit-out against the Box Hill Hawks, Petty felt some minor pain in his foot which forced him from the field.
While the 19-year-old should be right to front up again this weekend, Lewis will be temporarily sidelined as he overcomes a hamstring strain suffered at training last Friday.
Misson provides an update on all injury list changes below.
Injury List
Harry Petty
Foot – test
“It’s just a mid-foot sprain. It sort of blew up pretty significantly straight away but again, he had a run today so he should train tomorrow.”
Tim Smith
Calf – test
Jeff Garlett
Shoulder – 1-2 weeks
Jordan Lewis
Hamstring – 2-3 weeks
“It’s not a huge one – he actually had a run yesterday. It’s hard to put a time frame on it, we’re hoping maybe two to three weeks. It’s just a minor strain.”
Aaron vandenBerg
Foot – 4-6 weeks
“He saw a couple of specialists and had a reasonably positive prognosis there, so he’ll start loading next week.”
Joel Smith
Groin – TBA
“He’s still reasonably sore and he hasn’t started reloading yet. We’re just waiting for that pain to settle before we get him going again.
“He’s probably going to be at least a month I think.”
Mitch Hannan
Knee – 6-10 weeks
Jake Lever
Knee – 6-10 weeks
Jay Kennedy Harris
Knee – 10-12 weeks
Guy Walker
Shoulder – indefinite
Aaron Nietschke
Knee – season
