HARD-nut Aaron vandenBerg has had a setback with his heel injury and will miss at least another eight weeks.
Elite performance manager Dave Misson confirmed the utility would now consider several options regarding his injury.
“That heel just isn’t settling the way we’d like, unfortunately for Aaron,” he told Melbourne TV.
“We’re just going to get a couple more opinions and just make a decision on where we’ll go from there.
“It’s an unusual injury and very difficult for him. It’s another disrupted season, but we’re hoping to get some good information in the next week or so and organise a plan of attack from there.”
Youngster Pat McKenna has also had a setback with his hamstring and has been slated for a return in August.
“Paddy had a setback last Saturday in his rehab,” Misson said.
“He got a surgical opinion and we decided to go ahead with surgery, which he had last Thursday, so at least we’ve got some definitive timelines around Paddy now, which will be 10 to 12 weeks.”
Key forward Jesse Hogan (testicular cancer) and Angus Brayshaw (concussion) are continually being assessed.
“Jesse saw the surgeon on Monday and he was really happy with how the wound looked and with how the operation went,” Misson said.
“He’s headed back home for a few days of 'R and R' (rest and relaxation) with his family, so we’ll touch base with Jesse when he comes back on the weekend.
“Gus has started running, and he had a running session on Tuesday, so he’s essentially back working with the group now and we’ll just take that week-by-week.”
Ruckmen Max Gawn (hamstring) is another four to six matches away and Jake Spencer (shoulder) is two to three weeks from resuming.
“Maxy, like Jake Spencer, is doing some really good work in rehab. Both of them are pretty close. Jake is probably a little bit ahead of Max. But again, they’re doing a lot of running and racking up a lot of kilometres,” Misson said.
“They’ve started doing some ruck work in their rehab, so they’re tracking really well.”
Defender Joel Smith (shoulder) has been earmarked for a late June/early July return.
“Joel’s going exceptionally well. He’s doing some great running sessions out on the track. He’s started doing some pretty solid footy work,” Misson said.
“We need to work on his range and his strength in the gym, but that’s coming along every session, so we’re really pleased with where he’s at.”
Rookies Tim Smith (ribs/punctured lung) and Corey Maynard (concussion) have now been given the all clear, but Lochie Filipovic (hip) will miss two weeks.
“We’ve got a VFL bye this week, but both of those guys are ready to go and they’ll train with the group on Thursday and look to play VFL next week,” Misson said.
“Unfortunately, he (Filipovic) just had a little hip flexor strain in the VFL development, so that’ll be a couple of weeks.”
Misson said defender Col Garland is “tracking well” as he continues his rehab from a season-ending knee injury.
Melbourne injury list: round 10
Angus Brayshaw (concussion) – TBC
Lochie Filipovic (hip flexor) – 2 weeks
Colin Garland (knee) – season
Max Gawn (hamstring) – 4-6 weeks
Jesse Hogan (testicular cancer) – TBC
Corey Maynard (concussion) – available
Pat McKenna (hamstring) – 10-12 weeks
Joel Smith (shoulder) – 4-5 weeks
Tim Smith (ribs/punctured lung) – available
Jake Spencer (shoulder) – 2-3 weeks
Aaron vandenBerg (heel) – 8 weeks
