Hodge to miss a month

Updated May 21, 2012 18:43:17

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge's left knee injury is worse than initially suspected and is likely to keep him out of action until late June.

The initial assessment was of a low grade sprain of his posterior cruciate (PCL) and medial ligaments.

The progress of his recovery and subsequent reassessment would suggest the PCL injury is of a medium grade and the 2008 Norm Smith medallist is likely to be unavailable for a further month.

Hodge, 27, injured his left knee in a collision with a St Kilda player in the final quarter of the round six clash.

Hawks general manager of football operations Mark Evans said Hodge's knee tested strongly initially.

"Initially we thought Luke had sustained a low grade injury to the medial and posterior cruciate ligaments, but further assessment suggests a medium grade sprain to the PCL," he said.

"The management process from here is to allow the knee to fully settle before building Luke back up to match levels.

"He is expected to be available in around three to four weeks."

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, hawthorn-3122, vic, australia

First posted May 21, 2012 18:43:17

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Pies lose Brown for a month

Updated May 14, 2012 12:57:05

Collingwood will be without Nathan Brown for up to a month after the club announced the key defender had suffered a strained medial ligament in his left knee.

The Magpies said in a statement on Monday that they expect him to be sidelined for two to four weeks after copping the injury before half-time in the side's crushing win over Brisbane on Saturday night at the Gabba.

Brown only returned to the senior side on Anzac Day after missing more than a year of footy due to two knee injuries suffered in 2011.

He has played three AFL games this season.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, vic, australia

First posted May 14, 2012 12:57:05

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Blues lose Waite for up to a month

Updated July 11, 2011 23:07:00

Carlton's decision to risk Jarrad Waite on the weekend backfired, with the key forward out of AFL action for up to a month.

Waite might need surgery after scans on Monday showed he has cartilage damage in his hip.

He was subbed off in the second quarter of the Sunday twilight loss to the Western Bulldogs and the club said post-match that it was groin tightness.

Speaking before undergoing the scans on Monday, Waite had no regrets about trying to play with his latest injury.

One of Carlton's most important players had also been hopeful about being available for Saturday's blockbuster against arch-rivals Collingwood.

"These things happen in football, you can't predict what's going to happen," Waite said.

Coach Brett Ratten had also said immediately after Sunday's match that he was comfortable with the decision to play Waite.

"We got the tick from the medicos and everyone that he was right," Ratten said.

"I suppose they're the risks you take sometimes going into games."

Waite will visit a specialist on Tuesday to see if needs an operation on his hip.

Sunday was only his second game back after missing three matches with a hamstring injury.

In more bad news, midfielder Andrew Carrazzo will also miss the Collingwood clash.

He was a late withdrawal from the Bulldogs match because of a calf muscle injury.

While the Magpies regained top spot with a 117-point demolition of North Melbourne, Carlton dropped from third to fourth following the Bulldogs loss.

Saturday will be a major credibility test for the improving Blues, who lost to Collingwood in round three by 28 points.

They have a four-game losing streak against the reigning premiers.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, carlton-3053, footscray-3011

First posted July 11, 2011 19:03:00

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Crows lose Walker for month

Posted June 1, 2011 20:27:00

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker will miss at least the next AFL month with a knee injury.

Walker injured his right knee in Sunday's loss to Brisbane and was initially expected to miss just a fortnight.

But the Crows on Wednesday released a statement saying the 21-year-old forward will miss the next four or five games due to the injured posterior cruciate ligament.

-AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, sa, adelaide-5000

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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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Suns' Brown banned for a month

Published:Tuesday, April 12, 2011 7:21 AESTExpires:Monday, July 11, 2011 7:21 AEST

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has expressed disappointment over the suspension of defender Campbell Brown.

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Crows backman Davis out for a month

Posted April 12, 2011 14:21:00

Adelaide defender Phil Davis will miss up to four matches with a shoulder injury.

Davis was injured during Adelaide's loss to Fremantle on Saturday, suffering a shoulder sprain which caused him to be substituted.

The Crows have also ruled out half-back Michael Doughty from Saturday night's Showdown XXX with Port Adelaide due to a corked leg, an injury sustained in round one.

Midfielder Bernie Vince (ankle) is also in doubt, but fellow onballer Richard Douglas (hip) is rated a likely starter against the Power.

-AAP

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