'Calling them liars': Bombers great fumes at Riewoldt comments
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has taken exception to comments made by former St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt about Bombers forward Joe Daniher.
The Bombers announced in a press release on Monday that Daniher would miss the next six weeks after being ‘kicked in the calf’.
Riewoldt questioned the injury, saying it was “bizarre” for a player to be ruled out with a calf strain after being kicked.
“The Joe Daniher press release that came through from the Bombers, just really piqued my interest,” he said on SEN.
“He received a kick to the calf at training and has suffered a calf strain. That’s what the release said.
“I can’t recall anyone ever straining their calf because it was kicked.
“To say that it’s going to be a six week calf, that’s an extraordinary long calf injury. So all I’m saying, that just sounds bizarre.”
Lloyd, who has mentored Daniher at certain times, said Riewoldt didn’t know what he was talking about on Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Monday night.
“It’s pretty naive from Nick I reckon. When you’re sitting back at home and making assumptions on a player who’s done a calf, I’ve done exactly the same thing,” Lloyd said.
“Is he calling the club liars?
“I just reckon that you’ve got to be very careful … questioning players on injuries and clubs unless you know the facts.”
@essendonfc Let's be honest, is Joe Daniher really suffering a calf injury, or is it something worse?#dubious #EssendonFC
— Andrew Culkin (@CulkinAndrew) March 18, 2019
Love this from Garry Lyon re: Joe Daniher's injury “That was strange when I saw that. I’ve done a lot of calves, if you’ve done a six-week calf … my experience is that you’re at home."
With all due respect, you played like 20 years ago…
— Todd Davey (@ToddJDavey) March 18, 2019
i’m convinced there are unknowable forces conspiring to prevent Joe Daniher from ever playing football again
— sean (@rushedbehind) March 17, 2019
Daniher’s injury woes continue
Bombers fans will be sweating on the health of Daniher, who played just seven games in 2018.
The injury-prone key forward is crucial to Essendon’s success, with forward option limited in his absence.
Former Essendon and St Kilda star Brendon Goddard, speaking on Fox Footy, said the key forward had been rushed back for round one.
Daniher played in both of Essendon’s pre-season matches before being ruled out.
“Joey, we all see his talent offensively, but he was a little underdone coming in,” Goddard said.
“They’ve tried to rush him back for round one. That’s understandable, everyone wants to get back for round one — as players you do.
“But now sitting back as a retired player and a bit older, the rush for round one is a bit overrated. You’ve got to think long-term.
“Maybe they rushed him back — I actually don’t know, I don’t have the inside word as such — but Joey’s a huge loss.”