CLAYTON Oliver, Matt Jones and most likely Jay Kennedy-Harris are set to play again this weekend, after overcoming their respective injuries.
Elite performance manager Dave Misson said Oliver, who missed last week with a quadriceps injury, and Jones, who has been sidelined for the past six matches with a back injury, were set to resume this weekend. Kennedy-Harris just needs to tick off Thursday’s training before playing in the VFL in early April.
Oliver is likely to return in the AFL side, with Jones and Kennedy-Harris set to come back through the VFL.
“Matt’s just had that lingering back issue, but has put in a really good last month and he’ll definitely play this week, as will Clayton,” Misson told Melbourne TV.
“Clayton had that corked quad from the Brisbane game [in round nine] and he’s rehabbed that really well and trained well early in the week. He just needs to get through that main session tomorrow (Thursday).
“He’s (Kennedy-Harris) just got to get through training tomorrow, but he’s trained really well and been exemplary really in his rehab. We’re hoping he’ll get out there this week – and if not this week, it’ll be next.”
As already known, Colin Garland (cheekbone) and Jack Viney (knucklebone) will be missing from last round’s loss against Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park Oval.
“Col had some advice from a specialist on Monday, who was quite happy with how it looked,” Misson said.
“He’s got a little crack there, but nothing too serious, so he’ll miss this week, even though he’ll probably end up training tomorrow. He won’t play this week, but he’s almost a certainty next week.
“We expect Jack to miss three to four [weeks]. He was operated on, on Monday night, so he needs the first seven to 10 days to let that wound heal and then he can get going again. He’ll either [play] just before [the bye] or the one after the bye.”
Angus Brayshaw and Heritier Lumumba, who have been sidelined with concussion, are making good progress.
“Gus is going really well and he’s done some good running sessions and we expect him to start doing some skill work with no contact next week. He’ll potentially play the weekend before the bye,” Misson said.
“’H’ was in the club today (Wednesday) and he did some good running and he’ll be in again on Friday. He’ll probably be back, we hope, in the full program around next week.
“He’s missed a fair bit more than Gus, so he may need a few weeks to get going, and not play until after the bye.”
Misson said Christian Salem will miss another few weeks with an illness.
“He’s going slowly, but he’s getting better day by day, but we’re just waiting for those medical markers to start to improve reasonably, so he can do some good solid training,” he said.
“He’s in a bit of a holding pattern at the moment, but we’re hoping in the next few days, he’ll be able to start ramping up his training.
“He’s another one who we don’t expect to play until after the bye.”
Ruckman Mitch King (knee), who is out for the rest of the season, is working hard in rehab.
“He’s started doing some decent leg weights this week, so he’s quite happy spending a lot of time in the gym and eating a lot,” he said.
Melbourne injury list: round 11
Angus Brayshaw (concussion) – 2-3 weeks
Colin Garland (cheekbone) – 1 week
Matt Jones (back) – available
Jay Kennedy-Harris (hamstring) – test
Mitch King (knee) – season
Heritier Lumumba (concussion) – indefinite
Clayton Oliver (quadriceps) – available
Christian Salem (illness) – 4 weeks
Jack Viney (knucklebone) – 3-4 weeks
