AARON Davey is stepping up his training and is on target to return within the next month, according to coach Dean Bailey.
Davey suffered a knee injury against St Kilda in round nine and has missed the past four matches. But Bailey said the vice-captain is on track to return sooner rather than later.
“Flash is good. He’s just started to intensify his running,” Bailey said at AAMI Park on Monday.
“The operation went well and he’s not getting any swelling post the operation. But the important thing is that when he starts running, he hasn’t got any swelling at the moment.
“He’s on track and I think in the next couple of weeks, he’ll be running around and he’s already getting itchy feet to play, Flash … so it’s a good sign.”
Bailey said dashing ball-winner Sam Blease, who collected 27 disposals for Casey on the weekend, is also getting closer to selection. Blease has yet to make his AFL debut.
“Bleasey has been around the mark for probably the last three or four weeks to be honest. His form has been good and he’s been consistent,” he said.
“We probably went [James] Strauss and picked Straussy, probably because he’s in a little bit better form.
“Bleasey is coming along pretty well and he’s not too far away. He just needs to be consistent in the VFL.
“He’s knocking on the door and he’s knocking on the coach’s door and he’s visiting [defensive coach] Brian Royal at home … so he’s doing all of the right things Bleasey.”
Bailey said Blease is now playing with belief, now that he has been able to string games together, following a serious leg injury in his first AFL-listed season with Melbourne in 2009.
“He’s attacking the game with great confidence now,” he said.
“The young bloke’s had an amazing challenge in his young life - to get over what he had and football being so prominent with him.
“He’s come through it pretty well. He does some exciting things Sammy - there’s no doubt.”
Meanwhile, Bailey praised the performance of midfielder Jordie McKenzie, who kept Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich in check during Melbourne's 89-point win at the MCG on Sunday.
“I thought he was good on the weekend,” he said.
“He had a really big battle with one of the superstars of the competition in Pav.
“His effort on the weekend was terrific and I’d expect nothing less from a Jordie McKenzie game on the weekend. He gives 100 per cent every time he trains and every time he plays.
“He’s a great young leader for us.”
Davey suffered a knee injury against St Kilda in round nine and has missed the past four matches. But Bailey said the vice-captain is on track to return sooner rather than later.
“Flash is good. He’s just started to intensify his running,” Bailey said at AAMI Park on Monday.
“The operation went well and he’s not getting any swelling post the operation. But the important thing is that when he starts running, he hasn’t got any swelling at the moment.
“He’s on track and I think in the next couple of weeks, he’ll be running around and he’s already getting itchy feet to play, Flash … so it’s a good sign.”
Bailey said dashing ball-winner Sam Blease, who collected 27 disposals for Casey on the weekend, is also getting closer to selection. Blease has yet to make his AFL debut.
“Bleasey has been around the mark for probably the last three or four weeks to be honest. His form has been good and he’s been consistent,” he said.
“We probably went [James] Strauss and picked Straussy, probably because he’s in a little bit better form.
“Bleasey is coming along pretty well and he’s not too far away. He just needs to be consistent in the VFL.
“He’s knocking on the door and he’s knocking on the coach’s door and he’s visiting [defensive coach] Brian Royal at home … so he’s doing all of the right things Bleasey.”
Bailey said Blease is now playing with belief, now that he has been able to string games together, following a serious leg injury in his first AFL-listed season with Melbourne in 2009.
“He’s attacking the game with great confidence now,” he said.
“The young bloke’s had an amazing challenge in his young life - to get over what he had and football being so prominent with him.
“He’s come through it pretty well. He does some exciting things Sammy - there’s no doubt.”
Meanwhile, Bailey praised the performance of midfielder Jordie McKenzie, who kept Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich in check during Melbourne's 89-point win at the MCG on Sunday.
“I thought he was good on the weekend,” he said.
“He had a really big battle with one of the superstars of the competition in Pav.
“His effort on the weekend was terrific and I’d expect nothing less from a Jordie McKenzie game on the weekend. He gives 100 per cent every time he trains and every time he plays.
“He’s a great young leader for us.”
