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Brisbane’s players will take inspiration from the stoicism of Lincoln McCarthy and Darcy Gardiner as they faced their season-ending knee injuries.
The Lions confirmed on Tuesday the experienced duo face a year on the sidelines – each tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a knee during last week’s win against Gold Coast.
McCarthy and Gardiner join Keidean Coleman and recruit Tom Doedee in becoming ACL victims this season.
“It is tough to try and put your emotions to the side, particularly when we’re such a close group and we’ve been through it so many times,” midfielder Hugh McCluggage told reporters on Tuesday.
“There’s definitely a part of you that is really disappointed for them but you just have to keep going out there and get your job done.
“The boys that actually got injured were remarkable, how stoic they were … if you look at Linc and Darcy, they put on a brave face and got around all the boys.
Darcy Gardiner leaves the field in the hands of trainers. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“I think Linc was at the huddle straight after he hurt himself, helping the younger boys – that just shows how good a people they are really.”
Defenders Noah Answerth (concussion) and Brandon Starcevich (calf, four-five weeks) are also sidelined.
Meanwhile, Richmond’s influential midfielder Dion Prestia could return for his first AFL match since round one after overcoming a hamstring tear.
And utility Noah Balta is also in the selection frame for Saturday night’s MCG match against the Western Bulldogs.
Balta hasn’t featured since round three when damaging the medial collateral ligament in a knee and, like Prestia, will face a fitness test later this week.
Veteran midfielder Jack Graham (hamstring) and Jacob Bauer (hamstring) are chances after missing the nine-goal loss to Fremantle, as Richmond’s lengthy injury list slightly eases.
The Tigers, languishing in 17th spot with just one win, still expect to be without on-baller Jacob Hopper – another hamstring victim – for another fortnight.
And club champion Tim Taranto (wrist) was listed on Tuesday as being another four to six weeks from a comeback, with key forward Tom Lynch (hamstring) six to eight weeks away.
Richmond have also lost Josh Gibcus and Judson Clarke to knee injuries for the season.
Could Patrick Dangerfield be winging his way back to Adelaide?
The Crows are reportedly set to target the veteran star for 2024 to help mentor their young squad in the final years of his career, according to 7 News.
After spending the first eight years of his careers at the Crows, the 34-year-old midfielder has been an integral member of Geelong’s line-up since 2016, the year he won the Brownlow Medal, but only managed 18 matches last season as injuries started taking their toll.
The 2022 premiership winner, who has racked up 325 games and eight All-Australian team selections, is a restricted free agent at the end of this season so Adelaide could lure the Geelong skipper home without having to offer up a trade.
The Crows have reached out to Dangerield to see if he would entertain a return to the South Australian capital although the Cats are favourites to retain his services next year.
Dangerfield is currently sidelined after suffering a hamstring tear in the same spot where he suffered a similar injury in round two against Adelaide.
The star Cat returned in round six but couldn’t get through his second game back, going down during the third quarter of the Round 7 win over Carlton. He will be out for at least a month.
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. After their first loss of the season, Geelong host Port Adelaide this Friday night.
Taylor Bruhn was subbed off mid-game against Melbourne with a shoulder injury but coach Chris Scott is hopeful it is not serious.
West Coast say they will prioritise Tyler Brockman’s health and wellbeing after the forward was involved in a car crash that is being investigated by police.
Brockman was involved in a traffic accident in Geraldton, 420km north of Perth, early on Saturday morning.
The 21-year-old attended a family funeral on Friday afternoon.
West Coast say no other vehicle was involved, and no one was injured.
“This matter is being investigated by the WA Police and Tyler is fully co-operating,” West Coast said in a statement.
“Tyler’s personal circumstances are complex, and the club will prioritise his health and wellbeing ahead of any return to playing football.
“The club has informed the AFL regarding this incident, and we await the outcome of the police investigation before making any further comment.”
Brockman played 26 games for Hawthorn before being traded to West Coast at the end of last year.
The small forward was goalless across his first six games for the Eagles before being omitted for last week’s six-point loss to Essendon.
West Coast are nursing a number of injury concerns leading into Sunday’s clash with Collingwood at Marvel Stadium.
In-form forward Jake Waterman will miss the match with concussion, while gun midfielder Elliot Yeo is also expected to spend a stint on the sidelines after injuring his groin.
Yep, this Eagle can fly ????
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Tyler Brockman is the @VirginAustralia Mark of the Year nominee for round three. pic.twitter.com/QXgVcAHdtw
Coach Adam Simpson said on Monday night that they are awaiting scans on Yeo, but it is not a recurrence of the star’s osteitis pubis.
“It’s more of a pulled muscle, so we’re hoping it’s just a one-to-two-week injury,” Simpson told Fox Footy.
Second-year forward Noah Long is also awaiting the results of scans after his knee twisted awkwardly in a tackle on the weekend.
There’s a chance Long damaged his anterior cruciate ligament.
“We hope for the best, but fear the worst,” Simpson said.
with AAP
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