Border Mail | DEFENDING premier Henty has suffered a blow with high-flying forward Shannon Terlich sidelined indefinitely with a shoulder complaint.
Terlich injured his shoulder in the opening quarter against Osborne last weekend after falling awkwardly.
Rookie Henty coach Josh Gaynor was unsure how long the Swampies would be without their most potent attacking weapon.
“He definitely won’t play this weekend,” Gaynor said.
“He is just waiting on some scans to determine how much damage he has done.
“At this stage we don’t think it is too serious but we will be taking a cautious approach and won’t be rushing him back.”
The Swampies’ attack has failed to fire so far this season after the departure of premiership forwards Ryan Hon (Albury) and Jason Brown (retirement).
Brown’s retirement may be short-lived after he lodged a clearance to join former club The Rock-Yerong Creek during the week.
Henty has the worst attacking record of the top seven teams, with Terlich leading the reigning premiers’ goalkicking with 11.
Classy midfielder Heath Ohlin is next best on six.
Gaynor said the Swampies’ attack was a work in progress as they tried to find the most potent mix.
“We have been trying a few different things structurally, to see what works and what doesn’t,” he said.
“But the positive is we have got the versatility where we have got several players who can rotate forward or back, depending on match-ups.
“Obviously we would have liked to have kicked more goals but I’m sure that will come later in the season.”
High-profile Queanbeyan recruit Ryan Quade arrived at Henty this season and has played as a key back in recent weeks despite playing mainly as a key forward in the NEAFL.
Quade has helped cover the loss of tall defenders Josh Spencer, Jack and Sam McCallum, who have all missed matches with injury.
Gaynor believed there was still plenty of improvement in the Swampies as the half-way mark of the season approached.
“We were fairly ordinary for the first three rounds and it has taken a lot longer to gel than I anticipated,” he said.
“I think one week we had a dozen different players in the side than the one that won the grand final last year.
“So there is still plenty of upside and our last quarter on the weekend was the best we have played all season.”
