Double setback facing Bulldogs

Updated September 17, 2012 14:48:53

Central District has been dealt a double setback ahead of this weekend's sudden-death SANFL semi-final against North Adelaide.

Eddie Sansbury has been offered a one-match ban for an off-the-ball incident involving Adam Harlett in the weekend's qualifying final loss to West Adelaide.

Alan Obst is facing a two-game suspension for striking Bloods' defender Joel Tippett.

The Bulldogs must now decide whether to challenge the suspensions at the tribunal.

Tags: sanfl, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted September 17, 2012 14:48:53

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Dogs' Morris suffers recovery setback

Updated May 08, 2012 16:34:09

Western Bulldogs will continue to miss the services of defender Dale Morris after it was revealed he will be out for at least six more weeks after hitting a snag in his recovery from a broken leg.

Morris broke both bones in his right leg when he landed awkwardly in his side's round 21, 2011 clash with Essendon.

The 29-year-old, who earned All-Australian selection in 2008, had surgery on Saturday to stabilise his right fibula after he sustained a stress fracture.

Bulldogs general manager of football James Fantasia said that while Morris is disappointed by the setback, he is determined to return as quickly as possible.

"Dale is a resilient character and will throw himself into his new rehabilitation program like he has over the past few months," he said in a statement.

The Bulldogs sit 13th on the ladder after they fell to Collingwood by 22 points last Friday night in their fourth loss from six rounds.

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

First posted May 08, 2012 16:34:09

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Moore injury setback for Tigers

Posted May 19, 2011 17:45:00

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick admits one of the AFL's worst defences will need a quick-fix from within after a huge set-back for the man earmarked to strengthen it.

The Tigers' best defender Kelvin Moore faces at least another eight weeks on the sideline, and the prospect of surgery which could end his season altogether.

Moore has not played at all this season because of a hip injury.

The club had been insisting Moore was close to a return to bolster a defence, which has leaked more goals this season than any other club bar newcomers Gold Coast.

Instead, Moore's season now looks in jeopardy after he was added to the club's long-term injury list on Thursday following less-than-promising scans this week.

"It's whether we look at further surgery or whether we give him some time off to get that right," Hardwick said.

"We've decided to go with the less invasive action of putting him out for some time rest-wise.

"Obviously the surgery's a secondary option but we'd prefer to get him back this year because he's such an important player to our back six.

"It's probably six weeks and we look how it's going from there, but we hope he's back up and training in three to four weeks."

Under AFL rules for players on the long-term injury list, Moore will be sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks.

It leaves the Tigers, who take on upwardly mobile Essendon in the annual Dreamtime At The G clash at the MCG on Saturday night, facing several more weeks at least of fielding an inexperienced defence.

The backline was ruthlessly exposed by Western Bulldogs in a big loss last weekend to snap a three-match Tigers' winning streak.

Hardwick admits his players had to learn how to defend in a hurry.

"Defence is a mind-set rather than anything else. How quickly you flick between offence and defence is generally how good you become as a side," he said.

"We're playing three to four teenagers down there who between them have only played 50 games, so it's a way to the future for us."

Moore's move to the long-term injury list allows the Tigers to promote a rookie list player to plug the gap.

But Hardwick says none of his current rookies had really staked a claim with their reserves form and no quick decision would be made.

"We've got a number of players going okay, but no-one's setting the world on fire," he said.

"The bait's there for whoever wants to grab it."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, richmond-3121

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Victorious Dockers suffer Suban setback

Updated April 17, 2011 21:20:00

Fremantle defender Nick Suban suffered a suspected broken leg as the Dockers continued their bright start to the season with a 29-point AFL win over the Kangaroos at Patersons Stadium.

Suban was taken straight to hospital for X-rays after his right leg twisted awkwardly underneath the body of team-mate Ryan Crowley early in the third quarter.

The initial prognosis was a broken fibula, although Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said the exact nature of the break would be determined after more scans.

"Let's hope it is (only a two or three-month injury)," Harvey said after the 18.19 (127) to 14.14 (98) triumph.

"Mentally he can deal with it and we need him back as soon as he's ready."

Suban's setback continued a horror run of injuries for the Dockers, who have already lost Anthony Morabito for the season and are still waiting on Roger Hayden (foot), Tendai Mzungu (knee), Alex SIlvagni (stomach virus) and Michael Barlow (leg) to return.

The Dockers led North Melbourne by just eight points heading into time on in the third quarter.

But Fremantle broke the game apart with eight of the next 10 goals, with the club's third win of the year lifting them into fourth spot on the table.

The Kangaroos are winless after three outings but coach Brad Scott scoffed at talk the year was already slipping away ahead of home games against Richmond and Port Adelaide.

"Absolutely (the season is still alive)," Scott said.

"I'm not into (labelling any game) season-defining at round four.

"I mean we've played three games.

"We've been to Perth for two of those three and could have easily have come away with two wins from those games.

"I look back to 12 months ago to the corresponding game over here in Perth against Fremantle (a 61-point loss) and we were totally outclassed and outworked. I can't say that was the case today.

"We were outclassed in terms of clean hands and clean ball movement, but we weren't outworked.

"So that's a massive improvement."

Hayden Ballantyne (25 possessions, four goals) was at his niggling and electric best for the Dockers, while Matthew Pavlich (34 possessions), Nat Fyfe and David Mundy starred through the midfield.

A sore Stephen Hill, who battled what appeared to be a niggling hip complaint throughout the match and also copped a knock to his knee, finished with 14 possessions, two goals and five score assists opposed to tagger Brady Rawlings (eight disposals).

Daniel Wells (26 disposals, two goals), Brent Harvey (two goals), Andrew Swallow (31 disposals) and Leigh Adams battled hard for the Kangaroos.

But Lachie Hansen, who along with Sam Wright was singled out for not pulling his weight by Harvey after North Melbourne's 87-point loss to Collingwood in round two, failed to fire once again, finishing with just eight possessions and a late goal when the match was dead.

Harvey, after watching Hill cop a heavy headbutt to his knee from a ducking Liam Anthony, said players needed to be more careful about ducking their head in a tackle.

"I just think we've got to be careful of it and aware of it and perhaps educate players about it," Harvey said.

Dockers: 18.19 (127) - H Ballantyne 4, C Mayne 3, K Bradley 2, N Fyfe 2, S Hill 2, A McPhee, D Mundy, G Ibbotson, R Crowley, R Palmer

Kangaroos: 14.14 (98) - A Edwards 2, A Swallow 2, B Harvey 2, D Wells 2, J Ziebell 2, D Petrie, L Hansen, S Atley, S Wright

-AAP

First posted April 17, 2011 20:02:00

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Barlow suffers slight setback

Updated April 14, 2011 13:58:00

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey remains confident Michael Barlow will return this season despite the star midfielder experiencing soreness in the leg he broke last year.

Barlow resumed running duties earlier this year but his playing return will be delayed after feeling recent tenderness in his left leg.

He broke his leg against Port Adelaide in round 14 at Subiaco Oval last season.

The setback is only minor but Harvey says the club's medical staff wants to take a cautious approach to ensure no further damage will be done.

"There's a little bit of tenderness in and around the area, but not the direct area," Harvey said.

"We've just got to monitor it.

"I'd like to be able to say he'll be out on the track next week, but there's just a delay with him at the moment.

"I'd like to give you a date to be honest, but it's just unreasonable at the moment."

Despite Barlow's setback, Harvey says the 23-year-old is still on track to feature this season.

"Michael's determined more than any other player I've seen just to get back and hopefully resemble what he did prior to the injury," Harvey said.

"He's got skinny legs and we just need to keep building up in that area.

"When you have a major injury to a lower leg then there are complications around that coming back."

Harvey says midfielder Garrick Ibbotson is a chance to return from an ankle injury for Sunday's twilight fixture with North Melbourne at Subiaco Oval.

But defender Alex Silvagni is set to spend at least two more weeks on the sidelines as he battles to overcome the effects of a recent stomach illness.

Ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who suffered eye damage last week following an accidental poke from Adelaide's Richard Tambling, is also set to be right to take on the Kangaroos.

- AAP

First posted April 14, 2011 13:37:00

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