COACH Mark Neeld says it’s too early to know the extent of Colin Sylvia’s back injury, which he sustained following a clash with Port Adelaide’s John Butcher at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.
The incident occurred when Butcher crashed into Sylvia, who flew for a mark. As Sylvia lost his balance, he hit his back hand on the deck.
Immediately the stretcher was called, yet a motorised stretcher soon followed, which took him from the field.
Speaking after Melbourne’s 48-point loss to Port Adelaide, Neeld said there was a chance Sylvia may not travel back with the team on Saturday.
“[He was taken to hospital for] scans on his back,” he said.
“We’ll wait and see the result of that to see if he can make the trip home with us.”
Sylvia will already miss Melbourne’s opening round of the season against Brisbane Lions at the MCG, due to an off-field incident, which happened in the lead-up to last year’s International Rules series against Ireland. As a result, Sylvia did not play for Australia.
But reflecting on the final pre-season match before the home-and-away season, Neeld said the players were still adjusting to his ways.
“We’ve got a new coach, so [we’ve got] a new game plan - that’s new. It’s just learning a new method and that takes time,” he said.
“There were certainly passages in the game where we put Port’s use under pressure and there were moments where we were able to wrestle back some ascendency.
“So that’s encouraging, but I still think early we got spooked and there were a few boys that hesitated.
“If you’re going to play - irrespective of the score - a defensive system that involves everyone, it only takes one or two to be off slightly and you fall apart. So that’s what happened.”
On positive for Neeld was the performance of ruckman Mark Jamar, who had 45 hit outs.
“He needed to show some improvement from his previous outings and I thought he did that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Neeld said he would not discuss the Matt Rendell issue, when he was asked in his post-match media conference.
“I’m not going to make any comment about any other employee from another footy club,” he said.
Pressed further about the issue, Neeld said adamantly: “I think that we shouldn’t have issues with racism in our community.”
“But please do not write in the paper that I said anything that there was a racist person in the AFL - I didn’t say that.”
The incident occurred when Butcher crashed into Sylvia, who flew for a mark. As Sylvia lost his balance, he hit his back hand on the deck.
Immediately the stretcher was called, yet a motorised stretcher soon followed, which took him from the field.
Speaking after Melbourne’s 48-point loss to Port Adelaide, Neeld said there was a chance Sylvia may not travel back with the team on Saturday.
“[He was taken to hospital for] scans on his back,” he said.
“We’ll wait and see the result of that to see if he can make the trip home with us.”
Sylvia will already miss Melbourne’s opening round of the season against Brisbane Lions at the MCG, due to an off-field incident, which happened in the lead-up to last year’s International Rules series against Ireland. As a result, Sylvia did not play for Australia.
But reflecting on the final pre-season match before the home-and-away season, Neeld said the players were still adjusting to his ways.
“We’ve got a new coach, so [we’ve got] a new game plan - that’s new. It’s just learning a new method and that takes time,” he said.
“There were certainly passages in the game where we put Port’s use under pressure and there were moments where we were able to wrestle back some ascendency.
“So that’s encouraging, but I still think early we got spooked and there were a few boys that hesitated.
“If you’re going to play - irrespective of the score - a defensive system that involves everyone, it only takes one or two to be off slightly and you fall apart. So that’s what happened.”
On positive for Neeld was the performance of ruckman Mark Jamar, who had 45 hit outs.
“He needed to show some improvement from his previous outings and I thought he did that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Neeld said he would not discuss the Matt Rendell issue, when he was asked in his post-match media conference.
“I’m not going to make any comment about any other employee from another footy club,” he said.
Pressed further about the issue, Neeld said adamantly: “I think that we shouldn’t have issues with racism in our community.”
“But please do not write in the paper that I said anything that there was a racist person in the AFL - I didn’t say that.”
