Star Carlton recruit Mitch McGovern has suffered a pre-season setback, with the former Crow sustaining a back fracture in a training drill.
McGovern clashed heavily with a teammate and in a marking contest and crashed to the turf during an open training session at Ikon Park on Thursday.
The Blues reported the 23-year-old has “a small, non-displaced fracture of the back” after he was sent for scans on Friday.
“Often with this type of injury players can miss one to two games during the season, while for others it’s not uncommon to not miss any at all,” Carlton football chief Brad Lloyd said.
“Mitch will obviously continue to be monitored during this next period, however we’re confident he’ll be back training with the rest of the team following the Christmas break”.
Carlton’s players will complete individual programs away from the club during a mandatory three-week Christmas leave period negotiated by the AFLPA.
McGovern’s switch from Adelaide to the Blues was one of the headline moves of October’s AFL trade period.
The Crows received a first-round pick and SANFL prospect Shane McAdam from the Blues in return for the disgruntled forward, who demanded a trade with two years left on his contract.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
I recall McGovern (WCE) got left out of the side for failing his ''skin fold'' test one year... by the time he was back in the side he didn't look any different. Ive never heard ''skin folds'' played a good game. Some of this diet stuff is nonsense... I recall an Olympic athlete telling me how he sat enthralled watching Lassie Vyren eat his breakfast one morning... he went on to break a world record and dietician's subsequently decided his breakfast was the worst one possible for middle distance runners LOL
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
That's something I've never understood either...give them their own programs to follow...monitor their results online... see them January 3rd to begin the serious stuff. Nobody cares how well they did a handball drill in November.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Jonboy, clubs rightly demand very high standards in terms of fitness when players return to their club. A player wouldn't need to be "fat" to fail to meet these standards. Much work needs to be done to attain and maintain the strength, fitness and skill required in the modern game.
Cat
Roar Guru
The only rubbish is what you are spewing. Obviously you have never watched a round 1 game. Plenty of poor skills from rusty players. First couple rounds are always among the sloppiest.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Exactly why today's footballers are not up to it. If you cannot get fit training 7 days a week for 12 weeks really..... Skilled players do not get rusty your talking absolute rubbish as usual Cat. If they come back fat they really are not worth having on list, fine them $50-000 there supposed to be professional's. Think a little before you print such rubbish.
Cat
Roar Guru
Players come back 'fat' and out of shape now, can you imagine if they had an extra 2-3 months before they had to report in? Players are always going to be more prone to injury when they first start training again, that's why clubs encourage players to continue to train (on their own) even in the off-season. It doesn't matter what day it is on a calendar when a player goes up for a mark and comes down and fractures their back. They have the same chance of getting hurt whether it is November, December, January or February. Have you ever watched the game in the first couple rounds of a season? Even with all the training done, skills are still way down. Players are rusty. Players are blowing gales and unable to run out four quarters. Reduce training and that will only get worse and make it extend further into the H&A season.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
You cannot blame Bolton but i agree starting pre-season in October is insane. Doherty and lots of others have gone down before Christmas over the years Starting on January 2nd gives players 12 weeks before the first game, ample time to be ready. I am sure there would be far less injuries during the season as well.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
So the injuries are all Bolton’s fault. I guess you think other clubs just run laps and do end to end kicking. Contested ball work is standard at this time of year. Docherty was going fine but unfortunately his knee went in an innocuous incident. Both Pickett and McGoverns injuries were in marking contests and not bash and crash incidents.
Macca
Roar Rookie
They get given training to do over Christmas.
Bluebagger
Guest
What I don't get about pre season training is, they train themselves into the ground from the start of October until Xmas. In that time serious injuries invariably occur and you seem to lose key players for 12 months. Then, the players get three weeks holiday for Xmas. WTF!? Basically all that pre Xmas training goes down the plug hole. So, what the hell is the point of this insanely long and dangerous pre season? Two seasons in a row now, I reckon this is Bolton's last season. He will be gone by the back half of the season and he has himself to blame.
Adam
Guest
His body is a worry. In his four years at the Crows he only got through 2016 missing just one game. His other three seasons injuries caused him to miss many games.