Injury update

[saynta]

herald sun.com.au

St Kilda

Match simulation: v Essendon, February 23, RSEA Park

Community series: v North Melbourne, March 3, RSEA Park
Max King at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
Max King at St Kilda training. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Dan Butler (ankle): Resumed running this week after ankle surgery last month, but he is still a couple of weeks away from joining main training. The small forward faces a delayed start to the season.

James Van Es (ankle): Had stepped up his training after ankle surgery late last season, but has since had a further operation to remove a screw which was causing discomfort.

Max King (shoulder): is still being managed, but is getting involved in more training after an injury-hit 2023.

Jack Hayes (knee): Still working his way back after a post-season knee clean-out, but there are plans to step up his training load next week.

Anthony Caminiti (hamstring): Closing in on a return to main training as he nears the end of a personalised conditioning block after hamstring tenderness caused problems before Christmas.

[SaintPav]

Butter has 6 weeks to get fit for round 1.

Will be touch and go.

Might not be available until April which means he misses the first 2-4 games.

[skeptic]

Maybe Collard is a chance after all

[CQ SAINT]

I think Collard is a long term prospect and will play regardless.

[B.M]

I’d be surprised if Collard plays

It’s a long way from WAFL colts to the AFL - he is wafer thin still getting afl fitness


In match sim he does some nice things, but is still learning how to find the ball more consistently


Butler will be hard to replace with his pressure and speed/endurance

[Otiman]

Collard will get a year of conditioning and be let loose in '25.

Might sneak a game or two pending injuries and if DC thinks he'll benefit from a game at AFL pace.

[shrodes]

[skeptic]

Had no idea he was injured and now oddly… I feel relieved it’s only 4 weeks.

Am quite keen to see Paddy

[Big Max]

I’d be surprised if Collard plays

It’s a long way from WAFL colts to the AFL - he is wafer thin still getting afl fitness


In match sim he does some nice things, but is still learning how to find the ball more consistently


Butler will be hard to replace with his pressure and speed/endurance

From what I've been reading (on this forum and others) Collard probably not ready for early games. Perhaps Henry, or even Wilson may sneak a gig up forward if Butler's not ready.

It's a pity our tall forwards, King, Caminiti and Hayes havn't had the benefit of a full pre-season. Not sure we have many other options.

[Vortex]

I'll be happy if that remains the extent of our injury list leading into R1.

This time last year we were already decimated with injuries so by comparison we are in great shape at this stage.

Got an extremely tough draw in the front half of the season so we need everything going our way.

[Otiman]

Doesn't look like Dow will play round 1, if he misses 4 weeks.

3 weeks is the preseason match against Essendon, 4 weeks vs North.

Then round 1 is in 6 weeks.

Will want some match fitness especially coming off a knee and reduced running.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

As long as we have one of Dow or the similar Jones that will be good and an improvement on what we had for most of last season. And even if we have neither that just means Seb keeps his spot and it opens up more midfield opportunities for Owens/Windy/Pou.

[Sanctorum]

It's reported that Paddy Dow suffered bone bruising in his knee so it's not a serious injury.

Subject to the severity, he may well make a much speedier recovery to full fitness.

If he is ruled out for the early games it gives opportunities for Darcy Wilson to make his debut as well as Marcus Windhager lining up in a midfield role, maybe Zak Jones if he's match fit. The club has finally got a bit of depth on the list to cover injuries.

[shrodes]

Paton ruptured pectoral, out for at least 3 months

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1486322/ ... ton-on-ice

[loris]

Paton ruptured pectoral, out for at least 3 months

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1486322/ ... ton-on-ice

That’s terrible news for Paton.
He’s only clawing back from one very serious injury (thanks to Roughead) and now it’s another operation and months of rehabilitation.
Bad luck that both of these injuries were training mishaps.

Poor lad, I hope that Ben is not going to be one of those players who continually has the misfortune of having serious injuries. Not only physically does it diminish his chances of getting a permanent place in the team, as he will be again playing catch up with his fitness, but also it possibly causes a great mental strain for him. I think his current contract finishes in 2024.

Best of luck Ben with your recovery & rehab, I hope you make it back ok.

[Yorkeys]

Paton ruptured pectoral, out for at least 3 months

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1486322/ ... ton-on-ice

That’s terrible news for Paton.
He’s only clawing back from one very serious injury (thanks to Roughead) and now it’s another operation and months of rehabilitation.
Bad luck that both of these injuries were training mishaps.

Poor lad, I hope that Ben is not going to be one of those players who continually has the misfortune of having serious injuries. Not only physically does it diminish his chances of getting a permanent place in the team, as he will be again playing catch up with his fitness, but also it possibly causes a great mental strain for him. I think his current contract finishes in 2024.

Best of luck Ben with your recovery & rehab, I hope you make it back ok.

Just when we need him mid season he will be there for us. With little evidence, I think Ross likes what Ben brings. I rate him based on watching him over quite a while.

[B.M]

As I keep saying

Injuries happen

And it’s just bad luck

Brutal game

[skeptic]

As I keep saying

Injuries happen

And it’s just bad luck

Brutal game

They just happen to some players more than others

[B.M]

Yep they do - hence the bad luck

Hunter Clark has suffered some significant injuries - that’s footy

You’re actually lucky if you don’t get injured


Ben Paton
Leg Broken getting tackled - unlucky
Pec ligament torn while tackling - unlucky

Nothing to do with the way he plays, his conditioning or physiology- just football injuries

[bobmurray]

Any news on Hunter Clark's injury from Wednesday's match sim ?

[Moods]

Yep they do - hence the bad luck

Hunter Clark has suffered some significant injuries - that’s footy

You’re actually lucky if you don’t get injured


Ben Paton
Leg Broken getting tackled - unlucky
Pec ligament torn while tackling - unlucky

Nothing to do with the way he plays, his conditioning or physiology- just football injuries

Well that's rubbish. Some players are susceptible to injuries far more than others. And it's called physiology. Is Jones just 'unlucky'? Was Hanneberry? X Clarke? Their bodies either aren't designed for the rigours of AFL or have given up on them due to the constant pressure. Yeah, broken legs and impact injuries are definitely bad luck, but players who are constantly injured need to be monitored as they become list cloggers.

Pec ligament torn, could be bad luck or their could be a weakness there. Soft tissue injuries are bad luck but also a sign that the body can't cope with the sport. Happen continuously then sorry, but NEXT!

Hayes also well in firing line

[The Fireman]

Hunter is too courageous for his own good.

Jones same category

[B.M]

Moods

Have you ever been injured playing footy?

The game presents 100s of scenarios per games where injuries can occur - contact injuries- explosive action injuries

It’s a ballistic game - how can you predict copping an elbow, landing awkwardly and breaking an ankle, doing a knee while twisting at speed

Seriously man - understand the rigours of the game

Xavier Clarke
Did his knee twice at 26 and 28 yo - HTF do you predict or control that?!
Prior to that he played 105 games

Hannebery - soft tissue injuries from scar tissue in his calf
Injury prone?
He played 208 games in 9 years at Sydney

Billings - barely played the last two seasons at STK
Injury prone?
Prior to that he played 150 games in 8 years!

Just about every player to have played the game has missed massive chunks of seasons with injury- it happens

Robert Harvey missed about 60 games due to injury
Good thing we didn’t cut him in 2002 when he had missed 50% of games in the preceding 3 seasons
Because he played another 6 years thereafter

Mason Wood missed more games than he played at North for 9 seasons - he’s barely missed a training session let alone a game since being at stk

[CQ SAINT]

Moods

Have you ever been injured playing footy?

The game presents 100s of scenarios per games where injuries can occur - contact injuries- explosive action injuries

It’s a ballistic game - how can you predict copping an elbow, landing awkwardly and breaking an ankle, doing a knee while twisting at speed

Seriously man - understand the rigours of the game

Xavier Clarke
Did his knee twice at 26 and 28 yo - HTF do you predict or control that?!
Prior to that he played 105 games

Hannebery - soft tissue injuries from scar tissue in his calf
Injury prone?
He played 208 games in 9 years at Sydney

Billings - barely played the last two seasons at STK
Injury prone?
Prior to that he played 150 games in 8 years!

Just about every player to have played the game has missed massive chunks of seasons with injury- it happens

Robert Harvey missed about 60 games due to injury
Good thing we didn’t cut him in 2002 when he had missed 50% of games in the preceding 3 seasons
Because he played another 6 years thereafter

Mason Wood missed more games than he played at North for 9 seasons - he’s barely missed a training session let alone a game since being at stk

Don't use drugs to recover. Actually take the rest, do the rehab and do the work.

I've played heaps of footy over 400 games, never AFL though. I wouldn’t know s*** about professional athletes preparation. Hanners and Robert Harvey would though and I'm guessing Mason Wood could teach us all a thing or two. Riewoldt was another. These blokes are rarities, not average AFL recruits like Billings and Clarke, who were talented kids with athletic ability who had shortened careers due to poor injury management and a lack of ability to impact with impaired fitness.

[Moods]

All I know is that if you follow, Petracca on social media or pendles or read Joel Selwoods book or Roo’s, you realise that some blokes will do anything to avoid injury. Some bloke’s think they do.

It’s always a balancing act though, balanced against who they are and what they have achieved in the game vrs long term durability. So Pendles, Selwood, Roo and Lenny were just lucky? Probably a combination of great genetics and great habits. Both Roo and Lenny copped serious injuries, I’m definitely not saying that if you play the game long enough you can avoid serious injuries. However, if you have only ever been an average performer like Paton and Hayes or McKenzie you’re trying everyone’s patience unless you dominate upon return.

But physiology, ie the body’s physical make up plays a role. I have two daughters who both play a very high level of sport. One trains her arse off and does everything possible but her ability to make it to the very highest level has been curtailed by frustrating injuries, the other daughter does very little injury prevention and has never been injured badly. Could be good luck but also I think her body is just far more durable