After the horror run that Essendon had with injuries in 2008, it looks like Carlton might have a similar run of bad luck in 2009. Andrew Walker has reinjured his shoulder in an incident that could put him out for the season… only a day after fantasy coaches had started looking at him as a fantasy forward.
With Adam Hartlett seemingly unable to stay fit, and Heath Scotland struggling in his recovery from off-season surgery on his adductor, Carlton’s rehab group is bigger than most at this time of year. The news is now official on the Carlton Web site, but that’s not the full story.
Although the injury is to the same shoulder that kept Walker out of the first fifteen matches in 2008, it is not a recurrence of the same injury.
For an explanation of what that means, exactly, we turn to the Carlton Supporters Club, which ran a post from a fan with an inside source.
From what I understand, this injurry is actually the opposite to the last one in that this one popped out backwards. The last one popped out forwards.
Heavy rehab and strengthening of one side of the shoulder can apparently weaken the opposite side. Early opinion is that this is what’s happened to Walks. I don’t know any more than that but he was meeting the surgeon yesterday I think.
The choice Walker and the Carlton hierarchy have to make is whether to have a shoulder reconstruction, which would put him out for the season as it did Sean Rusling early last year, or to rehab the injury for four to six weeks and manage it through 2009. If he decides to play on there’s every chance of multiple recurrences, with the distinct possibility of it turning into a Tadhg Kennelly scenario where the shoulder pops out at the slightest bump. Then again, some players do play through it, as Lance Franklin has to great effect.
After the surprising news yesterday that Walker was classified as a forward for AFL Dream Team and Super Coach this year, this is the first of what will be many uses of the red texta in the preseason by fantasy coaches putting a line through promising prospects. Was he in your calculations? Let me know in the comments.
abs of steele
January 24, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Not looking at him anyway.
drewriffic
January 24, 2009 at 4:30 pm
he was a good prospect, but the silver lining is you’d have to think that this will boost the stocks of Chris A. Johnson to take up a half back position…
XztatiK
January 24, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Nup, wasn’t looking at him.
Unlucky guy, though.
ben
January 24, 2009 at 5:35 pm
thats bullshit he can never play out a season whithout getting injured
TRS
January 24, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Wasn’t looking at him, I think there are far better forward options and he’s as injury prone as is humanly possible.
Heater
January 24, 2009 at 9:18 pm
He was never on my radar; too injury prone for my liking. Unfortunately for the guy I was right…..
SWB
January 25, 2009 at 1:28 am
I was looking at him as a back but I agree with drewriffic, it’d be interesting to know how this will affect fellow Carlton backs, what do you think monty?
Simon
January 25, 2009 at 11:54 am
I don’t think Walker would have played back anyway. CJ will be competing for possies against mainly Scotland and to a lesser extent, Thornton.
broady
January 26, 2009 at 6:29 pm
anyone know if houlihan is fit and done the preseason?
Davey
January 28, 2009 at 10:01 am
walker has got the all clear on his shoulder. no major damage.