Dual AFLW premiership player and sports physiotherapist Libby Birch uses skills from both her professions to analyse some of the biggest injuries in football and how they will impact players and clubs.
We witnessed some key injuries to important and high-profile players in round eight.
Geelong’s captain Patrick Dangerfield limped off the field early in the third quarter after his best-on-ground first half against Adelaide. He has been a true leader in his new role as captain and in fantastic form during Geelong’s recent resurgence.
The face of a dejected Adam Treloar on the bench told the whole story after his night against the Giants ended with a hamstring strain. Treloar has averaged an elite 28.9 disposals a game in his seven matches for the Bulldogs this season and ranks above average for total clearances, a huge loss for the Bulldogs who will face Carlton this week.
It was a scary sight for St Kilda fans over the weekend with injuries suffered by star duo Rowan Marshall and Jade Gresham, who both finished the game on the pine at Marvel. Both have been cleared of serious injury since and should bounce back to play Adelaide this Sunday. And in exciting news after overcoming a major shoulder injury sustained in the pre-season, Max King could be set to make his return to AFL over the next two weeks, a huge in for the Saints.
High-flying Jeremy Howe could also return to the seemingly unstoppable Magpies in the next two games after suffering a horrific arm break a month ago. The Pies also enjoyed the massive return of the giant Mason Cox, who had been sidelined with bleeding on his spleen.
Patrick Dangerfield has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.Credit: AFL Photos
GEELONG
The Cats managed to continue their winning dominance despite some key injuries to important personnel.
Dangerfield pulled up lame immediately after sprinting for a chase-down tackle early in the third quarter on Saturday afternoon. It was a captain’s performance until that point, with 16 effective disposals to half-time. Dangerfield was immediately subbed off, with ice strapped to his left hamstring. It could be a coincidence, but it is highly likely this injury occurred after cooling down at half-time. It has since been confirmed by the club that Dangerfield has sustained a low-grade hamstring tear. He sustained a similar but higher-grade hamstring strain in round 10 last season and didn’t return until round 16.
Geelong defender Sam De Koning had surgery on Wednesday afternoon to repair a nasal and maxillary bone fracture that he picked up during the second half of the club’s match against Essendon last Sunday at the MCG. It could be up to 3-5 weeks before we see De Koning return to the field.
Geelong defender Sam De Koning needed surgery.Credit: Getty Images
LIKELY REHAB
The club’s reporting that Dangerfield could be sidelined for a couple of weeks, but there is a possibility Geelong’s medical staff take a cautious approach and leave him out of the team until after the mid-season bye. That would give Dangerfield four weeks to rehab his hamstring, significantly reducing the chance of reoccurrence later in the season. It’s common for soft tissue injuries to reappear when loads are high and particularly for players such as Dangerfield, who do a tremendous amount of high-speed running and bursting at maximum velocity out of stoppages – all mechanisms that put the hamstrings in particular under significant strain. With a low-grade strain like this, Dangerfield will likely be back running almost immediately, with high-speed running and sprinting to come later in the rehab process. The focus will be on strengthening the hamstring back up, particularly when it is at full stretch over the coming weeks. The benefit of having the depth on the list like Geelong has, means there is no rush for Dangerfield to return. Returning him back too soon is a risk that would far outweigh the reward.
Typically, with a facial fracture, a player can return to normal activities within 2-3 weeks. However, it is the risk of contact that will extend De Koning’s return. The approach needs to be conservative due to the nature and place of the injury. Bones usually take up to a month to fully heal. There is no doubt De Koning will be back training with the team soon, but it will be non-contact.
LIKELY EFFECT
Dangerfield’s injury could open the door for out-of-favour midfielder Brandan Parfitt, who impressed in the Cats’ VFL defeat to Southport last week. Parfitt has only played two games this season and has struggled to make an impact in the Cats’ 22.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
In 2018, Treloar was running at high speed along the boundary line when he strained both hamstrings after falling forward. It was an injury no one will ever forget. On the weekend against the Giants, Treloar new straight away that he had suffered a similar injury after sprinting to evade a Giants player. Treloar threw his hand straight up and walked off in the hands of the Western Bulldogs trainers. The club has since confirmed a hamstring strain and Treloar will miss at least two weeks, but they are yet to work out a return-to-play schedule.
Young gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will need to prove his fitness ahead of the match-up with the Blues after injuring his adductor early against the Giants on a freezing and wet night in the nation’s capital.
LIKELY REHAB
The Bulldogs don’t quite have the luxury of personnel that Geelong do and their next couple of matches are tougher. Currently seventh on the ladder, the Dogs play Carlton this week, Adelaide in round 10, the Suns in round 11 and Geelong in round 12.
It is likely that with the seemingly low-grade strain that Treloar has suffered, that the Bulldogs medical staff will try and get him back by round 12. That gives the Dogs speedster three weeks of rehab; any less than that could be putting him at risk of re-injury, given his injury history. There is no doubt Treloar’s on-field output has gone up tremendously trying to cover the loss of Josh Dunkley this season. Despite missing most of the pre-season following ankle surgery in September, Treloar has been one of the Dogs’ best players across the first two months of 2023.
Midfield impact: Adam Treloar.Credit: Getty
Ugle-Hagan would have had a fairly light training week in order to give his adductor the most amount of time to recover. The most important task that he will have to pass in his fitness test is his ability to change direction without pain. It is possible that the Dogs give him right until the first bounce before making a final decision. The risk is if there is some soreness there, with the unpredictability of a game, Ugle-Hagan could do further damage. He is so crucial to their forward structure.
LIKELY EFFECT
Losing Treloar puts a lot of stain on the Bulldogs midfield. However, we know how flexible and adaptable Luke Beveridge is at swinging his players around week-to-week to get the best result. Lachie McNeil, who was last week’s sub, will likely get the start against Carlton this week. Mitch Hannan, who has been playing well at VFL level, is another option for Beveridge. Hayden Crozier is making his case for a comeback from an ankle injury, he returned to the VFL on the weekend with a 21-disposal game.
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