DEAN Kent will miss the rest of the season, after the club confirmed he would have shoulder surgery.
Elite performance manager Dave Misson said Kent, who suffered the injury during Melbourne’s loss to the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium in round 17, would not play again in 2017.
“He’s having surgery on that shoulder tomorrow (Tuesday), so that’ll put him out for the rest of the year, but hopefully set him up for a good pre-season,” he told Melbourne TV.
But utility Tom Bugg is set to return to the VFL this weekend, after being suspended for the past six matches.
“He’s been in a pretty solid training program for the last six weeks,” Misson said.
“To be honest, he hasn’t put a foot wrong and he’s worked really hard.
“He’s very much looking forward to getting back out on the playing field this week for Casey.”
Ruckman Jake Spencer, who missed last round due to an abdominal injury, will face a fitness test.
“He’s improved a lot today. He’s still got a fair bit he needs to tick off during this week, but we’re going to try and push him right to the line, but he’ll be a test this week to play,” Misson said.
Misson said key forward Jesse Hogan would be sidelined for another two to three weeks, meaning he could be available if Melbourne plays in the finals.
“Jesse’s tracking really well. He’s starting to do more running in footy out on the track,” he said.
“He’s starting to lift heavier [weights] in the gym, but he’s still got a few boxes to tick.”
Backman Mitch White is a similar time frame to Hogan.
“Mitch is going well with that hammy. We’re looking for him to run 90 per cent by the end of the week, but he’s another two to three weeks away,” he said.
Misson said midfielder Angus Brayshaw had pulled up well after missing much of the year due to concussion.
“He had a reasonably heavy knock early in the game, but he played the game out with no after effects at all and he had a pretty big smile on his face today,” he said.
Co-captain Jack Viney arrived at the club on crutches on Monday morning, but it’s not uncommon for players to be put in moonboots or crutches the day after a game to remove some load.
Defender Colin Garland (knee), hard-nut Aaron vandenBerg (heel), high-flyer Joel Smith (knee), forward Tim Smith (navicular bone), first-year Demon Pat McKenna (hamstring) and rookie Lochie Filipovic (hip flexor) are sidelined for the rest of the season, but are in varying stages of their rehab.
“They’re all at different stages, but they’re keeping pretty positive and those guys are looking forward to setting themselves up for a good pre-season,” Misson said.
Melbourne injury list: round 22
Tom Bugg (suspension) – available
Lochie Filipovic (hip flexor) – season
Colin Garland (knee) – season
Jesse Hogan (shoulder) – 2-3 weeks
Dean Kent (shoulder) – shoulder
Pat McKenna (hamstring) – season
Jake Spencer (abdomen) – test
Joel Smith (knee) – season
Tim Smith (navicular bone) – season
Aaron vandenBerg (heel) – season
Mitch White (hamstring) – 2-3 weeks
