Port Adelaide will be hoping superstar Zak Butters has suffered just minor damage after he was ruled out midway through the first quarter of Friday night’s Community Series clash against Fremantle.
Butters was bursting through a stoppage before landing awkwardly, forcing him to come from the field. The Power then ruled Butters out for the rest of the game with a sprained ankle as a precaution.
“He rolled his ankle, so we took him out,” Power coach Ken Hinkley told Fox Footy at quarter-time.
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“We didn’t want to take a risk, he’s not the sort of player you want to mess around with. I don’t care how many minutes you’ve got to play, he’s just not going to be here.”
Butters suffered a syndesmosis injury on the opposite ankle in 2021 in a tackling incident that also saw him suffer nerve damage to his knee.
He ultimately spent 13 weeks on the sidelines before returning earlier than expected.
Essendon appears to have been dealt a devastating injury blow a fortnight out from Round 1, with defender Jordan Ridley left devastated after limping off GMHBA Stadium with an apparent quad injury.
Ridley played the first three quarters of the Bombers’ Community Series clash against Geelong before being seen at three quarter-time with ice on his right quad.
The 25-year-old was consoled by teammates like Andrew McGrath and Jade Gresham as he walked towards the bench.
“If you look at the body language and teammates coming over giving him a pat on the head, that’s not a one or two-week injury,” Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy.
“You’ve done all the hard work, you’re ready to go – and bang it happens on the eve of the season. That’s terribly unlucky for that man, but we hope it’s the best possible and shortest recovery.
“It’s going to be a tough few weeks for him mentally, but let’s hope he gets that recovery done to a tee and gets back as quickly as possible.”
Bulldogs games record-holder Brad Johnson added: “That’s why it’s tougher … because of what’s being shaped around him. Zach Reid showed some great signs tonight, Ben McKay coming in as well and all of a sudden he was going to be able to play that loose intercept-type game like when he won the best and fairest a few years ago.”
Ridley, Essendon’s 2020 best and fairest winner, missed the final month of the Bombers’ 2023 campaign after straining the same quad against the Western Bulldogs.
Sydney remains hopeful star recruit Taylor Adams will be fit for next week’s AFL season-opener, despite copping a knock in the Swans’ final pre-season hit-out.
Adams, who was stunningly traded from Collingwood to Sydney during last year’s AFL exchange period, was one of the Swans’ standout performers during the first half of Thursday night’s Community Series loss to the Brisbane Lions.
But Adams limped off Blacktown International Sportspark midway through the third term with a mild medial ligament strain to his left knee picked up during a tackle from Lion Cameron Rayner, consequently ruling him out for the rest of the match.
Swans assistant coach Jarrad McVeigh, however, insisted post-game his club pulled Adams from the match as a precaution, adding he was still in the mix to face Melbourne in Opening Round.
“He got a knock to his knee, so we clearly played that conservatively. He’s still clearly a chance for next week,” McVeigh told reporters.”
Adams prior to his injury scare appeared in sharp touch, accumulating 15 disposals and a team-high seven clearances in a strong on-ball performance.
“It was nice for him to play with his new teammates for the first time and get a good blowout leading into the season,” McVeigh said.
“I thought he was good. For his first game, tough conditions – it was a bit slippery out there for the boys – but we thought he ran we, got enough of the footy.
“His hardness around the ball is going to be really good for us this year. His leadership in organising his teammates is always first-class.”
Livewire Swans forward Will Hayward also wasn’t seen from quarter-time onwards after copping a bump from Lions defender Darcy Wilmot, who was penalised for high contact.
Meanwhile, triple best and fairest winner Luke Parker remains hopeful of a quicker-than-expected turnaround, despite suffering a broken arm in match simulation against the Giants last week.
Asked about a possible return timeframe, Parker told Fox Footy: “We’ve kind of got no idea. We’ll be a bit guided by the surgeon, catching up with him (on Friday).
“But it’s recovered really well. Grip strength is really good.”
Captain Callum Mills remains sidelined with his shoulder injury.
Swans duo Tom Papley and Chad Warner were rested for the Lions clash but are expected to be fit for Opening Round. Jake Lloyd also didn’t play due to a sore hip.
Brisbane emerged from Thursday night’s match unscathed. Star Zac Bailey didn’t play due to illness, with Conor McKenna (hamstring) the only notable name in some doubt to face Carlton next week.
The Giants, meanwhile, have taken a cautious approach with star goalkicker Brent Daniels, who was put on ice midway through Thursday night’s pre-season match.
Daniels had an electric start to the Giants’ Community Series clash against Gold Coast, snapping a terrific goal over his head before adding another and setting up two more majors for his teammates.
But Daniels didn’t play in the second half due to heel soreness, although the Giants insisted it was a precautionary move.
Finn Callaghan (shoulder), Harry Perryman (hamstring), Darcy Jones (tonsillitis) and Isaac Cumming (quad) were all unavailable to face the Suns, while key forward Jesse Hogan was managed.
Jack Graham out for up to 5 weeks | 00:24
Elsewhere:
— Hawthorn vice-captain Dylan Moore is also a strong chance to be available for Round 1, reports AFL Media, after being sidelined in recent weeks due to glandular fever. Although he won’t face the Western Bulldogs in the Community Series this weekend.
— AFL Media also reported luckless Collingwood utility Nathan Kreuger could miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury picked up in a VFL practice match earlier this week, with the club to confirm a timeline next week. Kreuger has been hampered by shoulder and knee issues across his AFL career.
— Luckless Essendon duo Sam Draper and Dylan Shiel will likely need to prove their fitness through the VFL when the season begins after neither was picked for the Bombers’ final practice match against Geelong on Friday. Bombers fans will also need to wait longer to see prized top-10 pick Nate Caddy in action after the club said it would continue to take a “cautious approach” with the forward still sore from an awkward landing on his back at training a fortnight ago.
— Geelong left forward Ollie Henry out of its Community Series side to face Essendon as a precaution after he suffered a rolled ankle at training this week.
— Fremantle left out Jye Amiss (corked quad) but expect the star forward to be available for round 1.
— West Coast remains hopeful co-captain Oscar Allen (knee) will be fit for Round 1 after being “managed” out of the Eagles’ team for their last pre-season hit out against Adelaide. It comes with potentially all of ruck recruit Matt Flynn (hamstring), Liam Ryan (hamstring), Dom Sheed (foot), Elijah Hewett (feet) unavailable for Round 1.
— Dual premiership Tiger Jack Graham could be sidelined for up to five weeks after scans confirmed he’d suffered a moderate quad strain in the final stages of Tuesday night’s pre-season clash against Collingwood.
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