Melbourne’s loss on the weekend has gotten worse, with a nasty injury to a star forward.
Plus the Brisbane Lions are set to be without one of their best players due to injury.
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Dee-saster: Where the Demons are failing | 03:59
MELBOURNE forward Bayley Fritsch will miss up to two months after undergoing surgery on a fractured foot.
Fritsch suffered the injury in the opening quarter of Melbourne’s loss to GWS on Sunday and had surgery on Tuesday.
“The plan at this stage is to let him recover after his surgery and then building back up to playing,” Dees club doctor Laura Lallenec told the club website.
“We’re expecting a return to play of approximately seven to eight weeks at this stage, but we’ll see how he goes.”
Midfielder Clayton Oliver continues to push for a return from a hamstring injury, returning to training, with the club to know more about his availability later in the week.
COLLINGWOOD forward Brody Mihocek will miss Friday night’s clash against the Western Bulldogs with a hamstring strain.
Mihocek is the club’s leading goalkicker, but will miss against the Dogs, while defender Brayden Maynard is having an assessment on his shoulder after an incident during the side’s win over Gold Coast.
Steele Sidebottom is set to be available for selection next week if he completes full training, while Dan McStay will be available for selection this week if he completes training on Wednesday, having been a withdrawal from Sunday’s VFL side due to illness.
Josh Dunkley has been ruled out for BRISBANE on Saturday, with the Lions opting not to gamble on their star recruit’s calf injury in a game against AFL easybeats West Coast Eagles.
Dunkley was substituted at three-quarter time in Brisbane’s 81-point thrashing of Richmond last Thursday night.
While Lions coach Chris Fagan dismissed the injury post-match as nothing more than a “corky”, Dunkley did not train on Tuesday and his calf was heavily strapped.
The Lions will make at least three changes to them team that beat the Tigers, with forward Lincoln McCarthy (suspended) and the versatile Callum Ah Chee (concussion) to miss the clash at the Gabba.
Former skipper Dayne Zorko, who seems to have recovered from a calf injury, is in line for a recall, while forwards Kai Lohmann and Jack Gunston and experienced duo Jarryd Lyons and Daniel Rich would also be in contention for selection recalls.
A host of other Lions, including forwards Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron, midfielder Jarrod Berry and defender Jack Payne, were restricted to light duties at training on Tuesday.
– Marco Monteverde with NCA NewsWire
Fyfe out with foot stress fracture | 00:28
SYDNEY SWANS star Lance Franklin will play what could be his final game at the MCG, when the Swans take on Richmond on Thursday night.
Franklin has missed three weeks due to knee soreness and inflammation, but was in the frame for selection last week before a more conservative approach was taken with his recovery.
It has left the 36-year-old good to go for Thursday night, which could mark his last game at the venue if he makes the decision to retire and the Swans fail to make the finals.
Midfielder Chad Warner will miss at least another week with a calf injury, but in better news defender Tom McCartin has now played two VFL games in his bid to return to the AFL side after a concussion layoff.
RICHMOND will blood two debutants against the Swans on Thursday, with Jacob Bauer and Sam Banks to feature for the sides.
Bauer booted a match-winning goal in the VFL last Friday and was taken in the 2022 mid-season rookie draft.
Banks was taken with pick No.29 in the 2021 national draft.
Jayden Short will come out of the side due to a hamstring strain, while Dustin Martin will be available for selection after overcoming flu-like symptoms that saw him ruled out of last week’s loss to Brisbane.
GEELONG CATS star Jeremy Cameron is on track to return from concussion for Sunday’s clash against North Melbourne.
Cameron missed Friday night’s draw with Sydney after a brutal collision with teammate Gary Rohan in round 15.
AFL Media reported Cameron’s availability will be worked through throughout the week.
Mark O’Connor suffered an adductor strain and missed the match against the Swans, but is also expected to be available.
‘Mentally disintegrated’ Suns must act | 04:13
Jeremy McGovern and Tim Kelly are both set to return from the WEST COAST EAGLES ahead of the weekend’s game against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
Kelly was a late withdrawal from Sunday’s loss to St Kilda due to illness, while McGovern hasn’t played since round three, when the star defender tore his hamstring.
Jack Darling was subbed out of the match with a shoulder injury, with a decision on his availability to be made later in the week.
NORTH MELBOURNE players Liam Shiels and Tom Powell are both tests for this week’s game against Geelong.
Shiels is dealing with a calf complaint, which has put the veteran in doubt for Sunday’s clash.
“Liam had an incident where he felt his calf/Achilles tighten up in the fourth quarter (against Adelaide) in what was an unusual presentation of symptoms,” head of performance Kevin White told the club website.
“Scans on Sunday showed injury to his plantaris tendon, which is connected to his calf at the level of his ankle.
“He‘s made significant improvement over the past 48 hours but is still in some doubt for this week. He’ll look to prove his fitness at the back end of the week to be available for Sunday’s game.”
Powell is also in doubt due to “stiffness” in his ankle region.
“This (stiffness) has had a compensatory effect on his knee/iliotibial band where he has been loading more through this region due to a stiffened ankle with running mechanics,” White said.
“Tom will need to show improved ankle function and have the ability to run and function without inhibition in proving his fitness this week.”
In better news, Jack Ziebell is available for selection despite a knee concern in round 16, while Aiden Bonar has recovered from a knee injury.
