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Western Bulldogs defender Hayden Crozier will be kept out of AFL action as a precautionary measure this week following his medical scare.
Crozier was examined by club and league doctors when he fainted during the Bulldogs’ loss to Carlton in round two. The 28-year-old was substituted out of the match and was soon cleared of any immediate danger.
He has since passed further medical tests but will not play against Sydney at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said Crozier will instead be on managed minutes in Footscray’s VFL clash with the Northern Bullants.
“All the tests haven’t shown anything and he feels fine, he wants to play,” Beveridge said. “Our medical staff have cleared him to play but just as a precaution we’ll see how he goes.
“We’ll play him for three quarters and we’ll monitor his game time. Hopefully he gets through with flying colours.”
Beveridge said it would be “too much of a risk” to pick Crozier against Sydney as the Bulldogs attempt to arrest a worrying 0-2 start to the season.
“We don’t want to go in with a player who may need to come out,” Beveridge said.
Crozier has played 66 games for the Bulldogs since crossing from Fremantle at the end of 2017.
Nat Fyfe (Photo by Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Fremantle veteran David Mundy will miss Sunday’s western derby after being forced to stay in the AFL’s health and safety protocols, while Nat Fyfe will be sidelined for about another six weeks.
Fyfe underwent successful back surgery on Saturday after being bothered by a disc injury and he wants to make sure he is fully recovered before playing again.
“I’m up walking around already and hopefully will start running within two weeks and look to be playing in somewhere around six weeks,” Fyfe told Triple M. “But these things are a bit subjective based on the individual. I think that (six weeks) is about right, but don’t be surprised if it’s four and don’t be surprised if it’s 10.
“I’ve spoken to Matthew Pavlich extensively about this, you have to really respect them (back injuries) because you don’t want any lingering problems to occur. In and around the spine is a pretty important area.
“But the shoulder is fine, the back will recover fully, and I’ll be playing footy this year for sure.”
Mundy missed last week’s 10-point loss to St Kilda after being forced into isolation, and the Dockers announced on Tuesday the 36-year-old would remain in the health and safety protocols for longer.
Defender Brennan Cox also entered the health and safety protocols last week, but the Dockers didn’t give an update on his availability.
Ruckman Sean Darcy injured his right ankle against the Saints and is listed as a test to take on West Coast.
Forward Matt Taberner (hamstring), Nathan Wilson (shoulder) and Josh Treacy (ankle) are all a chance to return. Fremantle veteran Michael Walters appeared to injure his wrist against the Saints, but he wasn’t listed on the club’s injury list on Tuesday evening.
West Coast will assess Andrew Gaff (foot) and Jackson Nelson (knee) this week, but they haven’t given any word on the 12 players who were ruled out last week due to the COVID-19 protocols.
Oscar Allen (foot) and Jamie Cripps (pectoral) are still about four weeks away, with Dom Sheed set to miss another six to eight weeks. Midfield bull Elliot Yeo could return in two weeks from a calf injury.
North Melbourne young gun Tarryn Thomas has suffered severe internal bruising and will miss up to eight weeks.
The 21-year-old copped an accidental kick to the chest during the Kangaroos’ 15-point victory over a depleted West Coast outfit on Sunday.
Scans cleared Thomas of any fracture to his ribs but specialists have recommended he sit out for between four and eight weeks.
Thomas spent time in hospital to recover from the incident.
Collingwood duo Nathan Kreuger and Beau McCreery will be out for a month but the unbeaten Magpies will get Mason Cox back from his ankle injury for Saturday night’s showdown with Geelong.
Kreuger partially dislocated his shoulder last Saturday against the Crows while McCreery suffered a muscle tear in his hip during the win.
Cox is set to come straight in for Krueger while defender Jordan Roughead is closing in on a return in the next fortnight after off-season shoulder surgery.
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