Fletcher May Miss 8 Weeks

[j-mac31]

Leave him rucking, bring Hurley back even though he hasn't had the chance to play in the magoos, we need him too much.

Hurley on Roughead, Pears/Hooker on Franklin, McPhee third man up, Bellchambers to come in to allow Ryder to go back and help out if needed, or if not he can drop forward.

Their backline is in more trouble than ours, hell their key position defenders on the weekend were Robbie Campbell (a ruckman) and Thomas Murphy who is no where near being a key defender.

We really need a big on from Lloyd, hopefully now the 900 milestone is off his back, he can just play the game.

At least that gives us some hope for Friday night. Lloyd (and hopefully Lucas) need to kick a bag is we are to even get close.

I read on the afl website that Fletcher will only miss 4 weeks with a slight hairline fracture. At least it wasnt the worst case scenario this time!

Finally, some good news!

I read in the paper that it COULD be 3 weeks, or as many as 8.

[Madden]

FLETCHER INJURY NEWS BETTER THAN FIRST THOUGHT

Monday, 4 May 2009
Craig Rowston for essendonfc.com.au

Scans have revealed that veteran fullback, Dustin Fletcher, has a hairline fracture in his leg, football operations manager Paul Hamilton said today.

"Dustin has a surface crack of his left fibula. Really it's just a small crack which is probably the best news we could have hoped for," Hamilton said.

"He will miss the next three to four weeks of football which is obviously a blow to the team.

"Dustin will receive treatment and a key part of his recovery will be resting his leg initially."
Fletcher went to hospital in Brisbane for x-rays after the match - which was his 300th AFL game - and had CT scans in Melbourne this morning.

There were fears the 34-year-old had broken his fibula following a regulation tackle from behind in the third quarter, which would have seen him miss eight weeks or more.

"One of the positives from the weekend was the performances of young talls Cale Hooker and Tayte Pears," Hamilton said.

"With Dustin out for the next month we will be expecting more from these two young key defenders.
"Michael Hurley and Darcy Daniher have also recovered from their injuries and we expect both of them to be available for selection this week."

[Madden]

So I guess the good news is that we get him back in four weeks... after we have played Hawthorn, St.Kilda and Geelong.

............ great.

[Sismis]

They'll play it very safe with the great man, so expect 5+ weeks.

[Mrs Mercuri]

I just heard on SEN that Brent Prismall is close to getting the all clear to play for Bendigo THIS week!!!! This means that after a few matches in the VFL he will be back in contention for senior selection within the next month!!! It seems that we wont have to wait until round 14 after all!

[billyduckworth]

That sounds very encouraging, Mrs M.
We certainly need some good news at the moment!

[Ossie]

If we do get Darcy and Michael Hurley back this week that will soften the blow a little. Hurley is a perfect match up (or at least as perfect as we're gonna get) for Roughead.

[tom9779]

4 weeks is a good result really.

we have hawks, saints, richmond and geelong.

hawks/saints and geelong we would be kidding ourselves if we are much of a chance in any of them with or without fletcher.

if fletch is back in round 11 we will have a run of adelaide, demons, carlton and collingwood. all winnables which we would want our best in for.

[swoodley]

Leave him rucking, bring Hurley back even though he hasn't had the chance to play in the magoos, we need him too much.

Hurley on Roughead, Pears/Hooker on Franklin, McPhee third man up, Bellchambers to come in to allow Ryder to go back and help out if needed, or if not he can drop forward.

Their backline is in more trouble than ours, hell their key position defenders on the weekend were Robbie Campbell (a ruckman) and Thomas Murphy who is no where near being a key defender.

We really need a big on from Lloyd, hopefully now the 900 milestone is off his back, he can just play the game.

Gilham and Birchall will be back this week and they are both members of last year's premiership team so their backline just got a whole lot better