In today’s AFL briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Relief for a big Pie on the injury front
- Suns duo making tracks, but teammate has a big setback
Short stint for Cameron on the sidelines
Jon Pierik
Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron will be sidelined for a couple of weeks but is expected to be fit for the Magpies’ practice matches, in a season when his importance has heightened after the loss of Brodie Grundy.
Cameron was hurt at training on Wednesday, with the Magpies confirming on Friday he had only strained his right hamstring. It was a major relief for the Magpies and Cameron, for he shapes as the club’s frontline ruckman.
Cameron’s strong form last season has helped to ease the absence of two-time All-Australian Grundy who has moved to Melbourne. The Magpies also have Mason Cox and Aiden Begg as ruckmen, while West Adelaide teenager Oscar Steene is hopeful of being added to the list through the supplemental selection period.
Good news: Magpies ruckman Darcy Cameron has only a minor hamstring strain and will be sidelined for a fortnight.Credit:Getty Images
The Magpies and Blues will clash in a practice match at Ikon Park on February 24, before the Magpies head to Launceston to face Hawthorn in an official pre-season match on March 2.
The Magpies expect Cameron to be fit for both. The Pies held a robust training session at Olympic Park on Friday, but new skipper Darcy Moore continued to spend most of his time away from the main group completing running drills.
Moore has lifted his training loads after being hospitalised in December with a bone infection, and the Magpies maintain he could play in the practice matches.
Sun goes down, others on the mend
Meanwhile, Gold Coast Suns Ben King and Lachie Weller are eying an early season return, with each impressing in the pre-season after having knee reconstructions last year. King, the key forward, could return as early as round one.
However, defender Wil Powell will miss up to two months after scans revealed a significant hamstring tear.
“He’s done a fairly bad hamstring, a grade three, so it’ll probably be six weeks. He starts running in a little while but it’s a fairly substantial one,” Suns football performance boss Wayne Campbell said.
