The 2015 season is over for Carlton’s Dale Thomas with the midfielder set to undergo shoulder surgery on Sunday.
According to the Blues the shoulder injury Thomas suffered just minutes into the season-opener against Richmond has flared up again.
“His shoulder hasn’t been right ever since the first tackle of the first game at the start of the season and the last couple of games it actually slipped out,” said Carlton football manage Andrew McKay.
“We had some advice from the specialist yesterday and came to the conclusion that he needs a shoulder reconstruction, so he’s having that done tomorrow.
“It’s really unfortunate for Dale, and certainly disappointing for us, that he will be out for the rest of the season. But this way at least we will be able to get him fit and get him right before the start of the pre-season for 2016 to give him the best opportunity to play some really good footy next year.”
It’s not been an easy couple of weeks for Thomas who is also currently in a moon boot recovering from a stress reaction in his toe.
This latest injury adds more woe to what has been a disastrous season for Carlton to date.
The Blues have lacked competitiveness in most of their performances so far for the year and sit in last place on the AFL ladder with a 1-9 record.
They sacked legendary coach Mick Malthouse a few weeks ago following a string of poor performances and a fiery appearance on the radio, and just last week lost superstar Chris Judd to retirement following an ACL injury.
Club captain Marc Murphy and last year’s Best and Fairest winner Bryce Gibbs have also struggled to stay fit and on the field.
For Thomas it’s the latest in a long line of injuries that have derailed his career in recent years.
The former Magpie, taken at pick #2 in the same draft as Marc Murphy, Josh J Kennedy and Scott Pendlebury, was a key member of Collingwood’s 2010 premiership side.
He then went on to have an excellent 2011 season in which his form was so good that then St Kilda coach Ross Lyon at one point labelled him a contender to be considered the best player in the game.
However an ankle injury in 2013 saw him play only five games that year and at the end of the season he signed with the Carlton Blues, following mentor Mick Malthouse to the club.
While he played most of the 2014 season his form was average throughout and eventually his year was ended by a knee injury.
Now for the third year in a row his season is ended early by injury, which must lead to more and more doubt about whether or not he can ever return to his best form.
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Guest
Poor Dollar Daisy, oh well he's still on good coin.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Fair Logic
Macca
Guest
Wilson - Kreuzer & Casboult are both decent ruck forwards so I wouldn't be too upset if they went with an out and out ruckman but in this draft I woldn't want them to use more than a rookie pick or a late draft pick on a ruckman.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Would you think that a Forward that can ruck be a better way to go as a back up in the style of McEvoy or Hale? That is primary your tall forward but can do the ruck in no other choices is around.
Macca
Guest
Col- I just don't see the point in keeping him just to be there if Wood and Kreuzer go down just so we don't have to use Casboult. and I'm not saying we use a high pick on a back up ruckman just do what we did with Wood, get a mature body as a rookie who would make do Ina pinch. And having to strengthen our list in other areas and the lack of good ruckmen around is why we should get rid of Warnock.
Col from Brissie
Guest
There's not too many good ruckmen available and we need to strengthen the list in other areas so need to utilise our picks wisely. Warnock whilst not the greatest ruck around is still experienced and I am only saying would be for back up should our other rucks go down with injury. We need to be drafting a young ruckman in the next couple of drafts but you don't want to be throwing them in against big bodies until they can handle it.
Macca
Guest
Dalgety - Agree we won't get a lot for him but even a pick in the 40s would be better than keeping him, especially if we package that pick up with Yarran or Walker (plus another pick) to get something decent.
Macca
Guest
Col - We would be better off drafting another ruckman or getting one as a rookie than keeping Warnock.
Col from Brissie
Guest
Macca, given that we only have 3 recognised ruckmen with Casboult a forward/ruck they may have to keep Warnock as a backup, especially with Kreuzers history with injuries. Certainly on a reduced contract or even as a rookie.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Essendon may be one of the likeliest takers for a ruckman Macca. Although I'm not sure, given their trading history and Warnock's current value, Carltoon will get much return for him.
Macca
Guest
The blues are really clearing the decks and setting up for next year, Warnock off to surgery last week and Thomas off this week hopefully has them ready for next year (although Warnock will probably be at another club whatever trade value he has is enhanced if he doesn't have to have surgery when he gets to his new club) and with Judd retired the blues should now have the opportunity to get a few rookies onto their senior list - players like Fields who has been good at CHB, Bradley Walsh wo has featured in the best for the 2's a bit, Billy Gowers or Blaine Johnson.