DASHER Heritier Lumumba faces a fitness test in the lead-up to Melbourne’s clash against Fremantle at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
Lumumba was subbed out of last Sunday’s loss to Carlton at the MCG, due to an ankle injury. But elite performance manager Dave Misson was hopeful Lumumba would be available to play against the Dockers.
“He had some scans yesterday and we’re just going to review those and get a specialist to review those,” he told Dee TV.
“He’d probably be a test this week. He’s still walking around on crutches, but he’s improving quite quickly, so we’ll just see how he’s going by the end of the week.”
Misson said forward Dean Kent pulled up well after returning in the VFL last weekend from a hamstring injury, which has interrupted most of his season.
“He’s just a bit generally sore, but he’ll play again this week with more minutes,” he said.
Midfielder Jimmy Toumpas will be available this week, after he did not play for Casey last round due to concussion. Tall Jack Fitzpatrick also missed with concussion, but will be a test.
“Jack’s still got a few lingering symptoms, so that’ll be up to the doctors in terms of what happens this week,” Misson said.
“Jimmy trained yesterday (Monday) and he’s feeling great, so he’ll be available this week.”
Defender Neville Jetta will also be monitored, after hurting his neck against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in round 20.
“Nev did some training again yesterday (Monday) and he was pretty good, but he’s going to have to do a little bit of contact work tomorrow (Wednesday) and be confident with that,” Misson said.
“It’s really up to Neville and the doctors to work out what he’ll do this week, but we’d say more likely than not.”
Misson said ball winner Dom Tyson and big man Max King were likely to return from hamstring injuries.
“We both expect them to play. They both trained pretty strongly yesterday (Monday) and they’ll train again tomorrow (Wednesday), so we expect both of those guys to be OK,” he said.
Rookie Aaron vandenBerg (hamstring), versatile tall Cam Pedersen (wrist), first-year Demon Christian Petracca (knee) and midfielder Jack Trengove (foot), who are all out for the rest of the season, continue to work hard in rehab.
“Each is at different stages of their rehab. Pedo is doing full training without a lot of contact with that wrist and Christian Petracca is doing some really good stuff in rehab and getting into some more function skill work,” Misson said.
“Trenners is gradually building up his running and Vanders is doing some good off legs training and he’ll probably start training next week.
Melbourne injury list: round 22
Jack Fitzpatrick (concussion) – test
Neville Jetta (neck) – test
Max King (hamstring) – test
Heritier Lumumba (ankle) – test
Cameron Pedersen (wrist) – season
Christian Petracca (knee) – season
Jimmy Toumpas (concussion) – available
Jack Trengove (foot) – season
Dom Tyson (hamstring) – test
Aaron vandenBerg (hamstring) – season
