By Justin Chadwick
West Coast captain Luke Shuey is set to be sidelined for at least a month after injuring both his ankle and hamstring in the loss to Port Adelaide.
Shuey injured his left ankle in the opening term of last week’s match after his leg got caught underneath an opponent.
Ollie Wines tackles Luke Shuey.Credit: Getty Images
The 32-year-old returned to the field once his ankle was strapped, but he was subbed out in the third quarter after struggling with the injury.
Once he cooled down, Shuey noted hamstring tightness – a big concern given the premiership midfielder’s battle with hamstring injuries in recent years.
Shuey suffered ligament damage and bone bruising in his ankle and is expected to miss four to five weeks.
Former captain Shannon Hurn (soreness) is expected to return for Saturday night’s clash with Carlton in Perth, but no timeline has been set for the returns of Dom Sheed (fractured larynx) and Tom Cole (ankle).
Ruckman Nic Naitanui (Achilles) and defender Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) are listed as being seven to eight weeks away, while Liam Ryan (hamstring) is expected to return in 10-12 weeks.
Forward Jamie Cripps (ankle, 12-14 weeks) is another player hoping to return in the latter part of the season.
Young midfielder Campbell Chesser (knee) and forward Noah Long (hamstring) are listed as being two to three weeks away, while Brady Hough (hamstring) could return in as little as a week.
Elliot Yeo will miss another three to four weeks with a groin injury.
Hawthorn key forward Mitch Lewis is set to make his first appearance of the season in Saturday’s clash with the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
Lewis suffered a sprain of his anterior cruciate ligament in January, but has worked his way back to full fitness and is ready to be unleashed against the Bulldogs.
“He had a full week of training last week, he gets another full week this week and he’ll be available to play a full game of footy,” Hawthorn’s high performance manager Peter Burge said.
“I’m 99 per cent confident that the coaches will pick him in the AFL, so it’s all very positive, he’s ready to play football.”
Youngster Jai Serong is on track to return in three weeks after recovering from a diagnosis of pericarditis last month.
Serong was sent to hospital in March after suffering chest pains, but was last week given the all clear by his specialist to resume training.
Hawks ruckman Max Lynch is grounded indefinitely after suffering what is believed to be the ninth concussion of his career in last week’s loss to Adelaide.
Fremantle seemed to suffer a blow at training on Wednesday when defender Heath Chapman limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Chapman was on track to return from a calf injury for Saturday’s crunch clash with Brisbane at the Gabba, but it looks like those plans will now be put on ice.
AAP
