Injured Players Thread 2018 Year

[Bully]

Don't know if this has been posted but not good news for those relying on Lobb.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/rory-lobb-likely-to-miss-round-one-as-gws-injury-curse-enters-third-year/news-story/5fd33582bb55e8df13a6a9fa5b5bd8f5

Dumb firewall - Will not even bring up article when posting URL so can you just copy and paste relevant paragraph.

Greater Western Sydney yesterday hosed down injury concerns over new No 1 ruckman Rory Lobb but conceded he was in doubt for the start of the premiership season.

With less than six weeks to the start of the season proper, Lobb’s restricted pre-season ­because of previous groin injuries is likely to cost him valuable match conditioning in the JLT Community Series, which could put back his start to 2018.

GWS’s injury curse has ­already entered a third season and Lobb is so important that any absence would seriously jeopardise the Giants’ crack at a maiden premiership after losing preliminary finals in the past two seasons.

The club’s best running ­defender, Zac Williams, ruptured his Achilles last month at training and could miss the ­entire year. In a cruel twist, Williams was initially ruled out for ­between six and seven months.

Giants general manager of football operations Wayne Campbell told The Australian his club was taking a “cautious ­approach” with Lobb, 25, who was expected to join in full training later this month.

“It’s really been a careful build-up for Rory, as a result of a hangover of groin injuries over the past two years,” Campbell said.

“He’s fine, we’re not concerned and he’s doing plenty of running.

“He could be in full training now but we’ve taken it easy with him for six or seven weeks, which we believe will help him get through an entire season in the ruck.”

Campbell said GWS were “hopeful” Lobb would play in the second JLT practice game against the Swans on March 9 at Blacktown, but added there was a possibility he might not.

Lobb, who was forced to sit out five games last year with soreness in both groins, has been earmarked to take over permanently from the retired Shane Mumford as the Giants’ key big man, as he did superbly in the club’s latest two finals appearances â€" against the Eagles and ­Tigers last year.

After 55 games as a back-up ruckman and key forward, he has replaced Mumford, who was forced to retire prematurely after breaking down again with a serious foot injury against Adelaide in last season’s qualifying final.

The Giants, however, remain confident Lobb’s interrupted preparation will not lead to an extension of the club’s shocking luck with injuries to key personnel in 2016 and 2017 when their seasons ended in preliminary final losses.

After a breakout third season in 2016 where he kicked 29 goals and developed into one of the elite competition’s best contested marks, Lobb resisted overtures from Fremantle and West Coast to return home and signed a two-year contract extension keeping him with the Giants until the end of next year.

GWS backed Lobb to stand up this season after his 70 hit-outs against West Coast and Richmond in the club’s past two finals in Mumford’s absence. Lobb had 151 hit-outs when used sparingly in the ruck in the home-and-away season. Mumford’s 802 tap-outs in 2017 was a benchmark which will be tough to equal.

The concern for GWS coach Leon Cameron if Lobb breaks down again is that he has few other proven ruck options. Next cab off the rank is the moderately performed Dawson Simpson, followed by developing big man Matthew Flynn, 20, who was drafted in 2015.

Another possibility is former Collingwood key-position player Lachie Keefe, who was picked up late last year after being ­delisted by the Magpies. Not only has Keefe, 27, not played senior football since 2014, but he has never played as a ruckman.

But in a gamble, the 204 centimetre endurance athlete is being trained up this year for a back-up ruck role. Keefe missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons because of a doping suspension and did not play a single senior game last year when he was returned to Collingwood’s primary list. In Keefe’s 40-game career with the Pies, he has had a total of seven hit-outs.

At one stage earlier last ­season, the Giants were unable to select up to 12 of their better players in consecutive rounds. The club conducted a review into its conditioning program but put most injuries down to bad luck. Last year’s priority recruit, Brett Deledio, played only a cameo role towards the end of last season ­because of ongoing problems, while fellow experienced midfielder Ryan Griffen was halted in his tracks by ankle injuries after the first three rounds.

Leading goal kicker Jeremy Cameron was plagued by hamstring problems over the final 10 weeks, when he missed six games, including a semi-final and preliminary final.

Campbell said the Giants could not be happier with Cameron’s health since he resumed from a break. “He’s flying and he hasn’t missed a session,” Campbell said, adding that he expected Griffen and Deledio to take part in pre-season matches after both stepped up modified programs.

[Huttabito]

TL:DR - Lobb may miss the start of the season, Giants being cautious as they don't want another season derailed. He is being primed for solo ruck duties and the pecking order at the moment in Lobb, Simpson, Flynn and then Keeffe.

[Bully]

TL:DR - Lobb may miss the start of the season, Giants being cautious as they don't want another season derailed. He is being primed for solo ruck duties and the pecking order at the moment in Lobb, Simpson, Flynn and then Keeffe.

Some ggod news in there obviously, might be better if he doesn't feature in JLT. On the other hand I'm not sure you could pick him if he isn't right for round 1.

[Bully]

Nic Nat may well be back in the frame, should feature in the JLT.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/west-coast/nic-naitanui-is-set-for-return-to-football-in-the-jlt-series-before-a-round-1-clash-against-sydney/news-story/8d8599527bc463195b0b551fb240ac24

[Gigantor]

Lobb, who was forced to sit out five games last year with soreness in both groins

This concerns me more than anything in that article, didn't realize he missed that many games last year

[Bully]

Lobb, who was forced to sit out five games last year with soreness in both groins

This concerns me more than anything in that article, didn't realize he missed that many games last year

Groins are notoriously difficult to manage, it's almost an injury for life.

[Nige]

“He’s fine, we’re not concerned and he’s doing plenty of running.

“He could be in full training now but we’ve taken it easy with him for six or seven weeks, which we believe will help him get through an entire season in the ruck.”

Campbell said GWS were “hopeful” Lobb would play in the second JLT practice game against the Swans on March 9 at Blacktown, but added there was a possibility he might not.

This is somewhat of a positive to take away from it and part of the reason I wouldn't completely stress and panic just yet.

Naturally, that's just the club probably being optimistic but I think that we really should have the same outlook until we have hard evidence that he's definitely ruled out.

He'll only go out of my team if he's ever officially ruled out of Round 1, I'm not gonna freak out and buy into speculation.

[Bully]

“He’s fine, we’re not concerned and he’s doing plenty of running.

“He could be in full training now but we’ve taken it easy with him for six or seven weeks, which we believe will help him get through an entire season in the ruck.”

Campbell said GWS were “hopeful” Lobb would play in the second JLT practice game against the Swans on March 9 at Blacktown, but added there was a possibility he might not.

This is somewhat of a positive to take away from it and part of the reason I wouldn't completely stress and panic just yet.

Naturally, that's just the club probably being optimistic but I think that we really should have the same outlook until we have hard evidence that he's definitely ruled out.

He'll only go out of my team if he's ever officially ruled out of Round 1, I'm not gonna freak out and buy into speculation.

I'm hearing mixed messages, seems to me that if he misses JLT he will miss round 1.

[Ringo]

Possibly the final straw for those hoping for Harley Bennell to start.

HARLEY BENNELL

In an interview on radio station 6PR, Paul Hasleby has announced that the troubled Docker has suffered a calf setback while training with the Peel Thunder.

[enzedder]

Possibly the final straw for those hoping for Harley Bennell to start.

HARLEY BENNELL

In an interview on radio station 6PR, Paul Hasleby has announced that the troubled Docker has suffered a calf setback while training with the Peel Thunder.

That’s the final straw alright. Would be a crazy starting pick all things considered. Article is up on afl website

[SilverLion]

Possibly the final straw for those hoping for Harley Bennell to start.

HARLEY BENNELL

In an interview on radio station 6PR, Paul Hasleby has announced that the troubled Docker has suffered a calf setback while training with the Peel Thunder.

What a surprise!

[Ricochet]

“He’s fine, we’re not concerned and he’s doing plenty of running.

“He could be in full training now but we’ve taken it easy with him for six or seven weeks, which we believe will help him get through an entire season in the ruck.”

Campbell said GWS were “hopeful” Lobb would play in the second JLT practice game against the Swans on March 9 at Blacktown, but added there was a possibility he might not.

This is somewhat of a positive to take away from it and part of the reason I wouldn't completely stress and panic just yet.

Naturally, that's just the club probably being optimistic but I think that we really should have the same outlook until we have hard evidence that he's definitely ruled out.

He'll only go out of my team if he's ever officially ruled out of Round 1, I'm not gonna freak out and buy into speculation.

I'd steer clear mate, he hasn't participated in full training yet. While he's a naturally gifted runner, he's still missed and will miss a good block.

[Ricochet]

Possibly the final straw for those hoping for Harley Bennell to start.

HARLEY BENNELL

In an interview on radio station 6PR, Paul Hasleby has announced that the troubled Docker has suffered a calf setback while training with the Peel Thunder.

Gone

[Football Factory]

Possibly the final straw for those hoping for Harley Bennell to start.

HARLEY BENNELL

In an interview on radio station 6PR, Paul Hasleby has announced that the troubled Docker has suffered a calf setback while training with the Peel Thunder.

What a surprise!

[Huttabito]

Possibly the final straw for those hoping for Harley Bennell to start.

HARLEY BENNELL

In an interview on radio station 6PR, Paul Hasleby has announced that the troubled Docker has suffered a calf setback while training with the Peel Thunder.

If you were still thinking about him you're not taking this game seriously.