Mystery groin issue to keep Pie sidelined
Collingwood star Jordan De Goey will miss at least one more week with the groin issue that kept him out of the Magpies’ win over Carlton on Friday.
De Goey has been ruled out of Sunday’s clash against West Coast as he continues to battle tightness in both groins.
The Magpies said he would not begin running again until the “back end of next week”, but hoped he would be fit to face Adelaide at the MCG in round 10.
Premiership midfielder Tom Mitchell will be sidelined again, this time due to appendicitis, but appears set to avoid surgery and could also return against the Crows.
Fellow grand finalist Brisbane confirmed its major double blow with Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy suffering season-ending ACL injuries against Gold Coast on Sunday night.
It means five Brisbane players have suffered the injury either in games or at training since Will Ashcroft ruptured his ACL in round 18 last season.
Lions football boss Danny Daly said it was “devastating news” for the club.
“Linc (McCarthy) and Diz (Gardiner) are quality players and quality people who we know will do all that they can to overcome these injuries,” Daly said.
“We as a club will continue to all wrap our arms around them and their families as we support them in whatever way we can during their recovery.”
Important lockdown defender Brandon Starcevich will also miss at least four weeks after injuring his calf in the warm-up on a horror night for the Lions despite their resilient win.
GWS is set to regain star midfielder Stephen Coniglio from a knee injury against Essendon on Saturday while Tom Green also remains a chance for the clash.
Green was subbed out early in the Sydney Derby defeat at the SCG with an ankle concern but scans cleared him of any serious damage.
The Giants said the 23-year-old ballwinner would require a fitness test but cleared Coniglio to play after he was unable to recover in time for the Swans clash.
It comes as young defender Isaac Cumming was dealt another injury blow in his VFL return with a hamstring tear after only just overcoming a calf injury.
Cumming will miss six weeks, while inaugural Giant Adam Kennedy is no closer to returning after his own hamstring setback in his recovery from an ACL injury.
Senior Richmond trio Noah Balta (knee), Dion Prestia and Jack Graham (hamstring strains) could all return against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night but will be tested at training.
Prestia, 31, has been back in full training for more than a fortnight, but the Tigers have taken a cautious approach with their triple premiership midfielder given his extensive history of soft tissue injuries.
Key position utility Jacob Bauer could also play in the VFL after overcoming a hamstring injury in another welcome boost to the Tigers’ tall stocks.
St Kilda recruit Liam Henry is fit to play his third game of the season against Hawthorn in Launceston after overcoming the severe hamstring injury he suffered in round 2.
Essendon will assess Jye Caldwell (calf) and Sam Draper (knee) before facing the Giants, while Melbourne defender Jake Bowey will return from a shoulder injury at either senior or VFL level.
