WANGARATTA has suffered a major blow on the eve of the Ovens and Murray league finals with star midfielder Jon McCormick sustaining a serious collarbone injury. Article first appeared: 25 August 2007 Herald Sun
Hopeful: Jon McCormick
The injury occurred in the final quarter of Wangaratta's first loss since Round 7, when fifth-placed Wodonga scored an upset 19-point victory last Saturday.
X-rays revealed McCormick has a cracked collarbone and Wangaratta may need to make the grand final if he is to play again this season.
A raging favourite to win the league's Morris Medal for the best-and-fairest player, McCormick had surgery on Monday night.
"He will definitely play again this year," Wangaratta coach Jason Lappin said.
"They wanted him to heal naturally, but if it heals naturally he won't be able to play.
"The plate will take the pressure off the bone and will stabilise the whole thing. It's not going to be easy for him, but he puts up with a fair bit anyway.
"We've spoken with a few people about it and they've all said it's a really good chance he can play again."
Wangaratta has not played in an grand final since 1977 and won its last flag 12 months earlier when McCormick's father, Ian, was part of the successful team. His grandfather Jack played in five premierships for the club including four in a row from 1949.
McCormick, a former Carlton player, made a stunning comeback this season after suffering a serious knee injury midway through 2005.
After being de-listed by the Blues at the end of 2004, McCormick polled a remarkable 18 votes in the first 10 games of the Ovens and Murray season. He finished fourth in the Morris Medal and missed the entire 2006 season.
"It's probably fair to say I'm an outside chance of playing again," McCormick said.
"I will find out more on Monday, though, when I have an appointment as I didn't get a chance to talk to the surgeon after the operation."
Wangaratta bowed out in the 2005 preliminary final before slumping to ninth on the ladder last year.
The premiership race is wide open with reigning premier Yarrawonga battling injuries on the eve of the finals.
The Magpies and Pigeons meet today while two other finalists, Wangaratta Rovers and North Albury, will also clash in the last round.