Turf toe sidelines Sandilands for 10

Updated June 11, 2012 16:58:42

Fremantle has received a big injury blow, with dominant ruckman Aaron Sandilands ruled out for up to 10 weeks with a toe injury.

Sandilands was substituted in the first five minutes of the Dockers' game against Richmond on Saturday, and the club announced on Sunday that scans showed he had suffered a "turf toe" injury on his right foot.

The ruckman missed three months of football last season when he picked up a similar injury to the big toe on his left foot.

Sandilands will consult a specialist to determine whether the injury requires surgery.

In a statement, Fremantle general manager of football operations Chris Bond said a medical report had confirmed a negative diagnosis.

"It's very disappointing for Aaron, the club and our members and supporters," Bond said.

"But as is always the case in these situations it provides a great opportunity for other players in the group to step up and take on the challenge created by Aaron's absence."

The Dockers will also miss defender Zac Dawson for at least one match after he strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against the Tigers.

Fremantle midfielder Stephen Hill will undergo a test after straining his ankle.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, wa, perth-6000

First posted June 11, 2012 16:58:42

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Sandilands out for a month

Updated May 23, 2011 15:07:00

Fremantle will be without its most influential player for the next four matches after scans revealed ruckman Aaron Sandilands had suffered tendon damage to his left big toe.

Sandilands has been spared surgery but will spend the next two weeks in a moon boot after stubbing the toe in Fremantle's 52-point win over Port Adelaide on Sunday.

It continues a torrid run of injuries for the Dockers, who are still without Michael Barlow, Roger Hayden, Adam McPhee, Anthony Morabito, Alex Silvagni and Nick Suban from their best 22.

Former Adelaide big man Jonathon Griffin, who was an emergency against the Power, is almost certain to earn the nod to fill in for Sandilands in Saturday's home clash with St Kilda.

But Griffin will have big shoes to fill - both figuratively and literally - with Sandilands now clearly the best tap ruckman in the competition.

Fremantle's recent record without Sandilands is proof of that, with the Dockers losing all five matches over the past two seasons in which the 211-centimetre giant was absent.

The Dockers were also thrashed in last year's semi-final by Geelong when a clearly hampered Sandilands carried a knee injury into the match.

Fremantle's midfield have become accustomed to receiving spoon-fed service from Sandilands but the 28-year-old was confident 201cm-tall Griffin could continue that trend.

"I would back Griff in to win the majority of the hit-outs anyway," Sandilands said.

"He's a quality ruckman.

"He's done a fair bit of work with the midfield over the preseason and in training as well, so I don't think there's going to be too much adjustment.

"Griff's been in great form in the WAFL and deserves a real opportunity to play at the club.

"So hopefully he can take the step up and play some really good footy for us.

"Griff's a big fellow, a great ruckman, so I'm pretty sure he can fill the shoes."

The seventh-placed Dockers (5-3) face St Kilda (home), Hawthorn (MCG), Essendon (home) and Melbourne (MCG) over the next month in what is shaping up to be a season-defining period for Fremantle's top-four hopes.

But Sandilands' immediate concern is finding a moon boot big enough to fit his giant feet.

"The club's got five or six of them and none of them fit," he said with a laugh.

"So I'll just have to see a place that makes the moon boot so hopefully it does fit otherwise I'll be in a bit of strife. I'm pretty sure they'll find one."

St Kilda used Jason Blake and Nick Riewoldt in the ruck last week but also have the option of throwing Justin Koschitzke in to the mix.

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, wa, fremantle-6160

First posted May 23, 2011 15:01:00

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Freo consider ruck relief for Sandilands

Posted May 17, 2011 14:42:00

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey may resort to bringing in ruck support for Aaron Sandilands in the coming weeks in a bid to avoid overworking the 211-centimetre tap specialist.

Sandilands has shouldered the bulk of the Dockers' ruck load this season, but Harvey fears the 28-year-old could break down if he is forced to be a sole servant in role all year.

Although Kepler Bradley has been used in spurts to relieve Sandilands, the former Bomber has proven to be more effective in the forward line, where he has booted 16.6 to lead the club's goalkicking.

Several top-line ruckmen have already been struck down by serious injuries this season, with Melbourne's Mark Jamar, Hawthorn's David Hale and Collingwood's Darren Jolly all succumbing to knee complaints.

Harvey wants to avoid a similar outcome for Sandilands and says former Adelaide big man Jonathon Griffin will come into the selection mix for Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide at Football Park.

"If you think your number one ruckman is going to get by playing 95 per cent of the game all year, well at some stage they're going to break down. There's no question about that," Harvey said.

"That's the concerning part from a coaching point of view.

"Aaron is playing a sole role in the ruck and probably at some stage we're going to have to look at Griffin.

"Whether it's this week or not remains to be seen, but he's certainly been playing pretty well at WAFL level."

The Dockers' injury list swelled to 14 on Monday when Adam McPhee, who will miss six to eight weeks with a knee injury, and Viv Michie (foot fracture) became the latest additions to the casualty ward.

Such are the Dockers' injury woes, Harvey will consider bringing in mature-age recruit Tendai Mzungu for his AFL debut against the Power.

Mzungu starred in defence during the Dockers' preseason campaign and was set to earn a round one berth before injuring his knee in a practise hit-out against the Eagles.

Harvey revealed goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne would have played in Sunday's 33-point loss to the Eagles had the match been a final.

Ballantyne (hamstring) is expected to be fit to tackle the Power, while midfielder Rhys Palmer is a strong chance of earning a recall following an impressive hit-out in the WAFL last weekend.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, fremantle-6160

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Sandilands has good news on eye poke

Posted April 11, 2011 18:55:00

Fremantle are confident All-Australian AFL ruckman Aaron Sandilands will be available for Sunday's home game against North Melbourne.

Sandilands was cleared of serious injury after he suffered an accidental poke to his left eye on Saturday from Adelaide midfielder Richard Tambling.

Also on Monday, the match review panel cleared Tambling for the contact, saying it was a legitimate attempt to spoil.

Sandilands stayed in Adelaide on Saturday, where a local eye specialist examined the injury.

"Sandilands visited a Perth specialist today and was cleared of any serious or permanent damage to his eye," the club said in a statement.

Football manager Chris Bond said Sandilands had to rest for a few days, but they expect the three-time All Australian to play against the Kangaroos.

- AAP

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