Border Mail |
JASON Gram says he is desperate to play in Thursday’s Anzac Day blockbuster against Albury.
But it’s no certainty.
Gram, who sat out the second half of the Hoppers’ 117-point thrashing of Wangaratta at the weekend, is suffering hamstring tightness and faces a race against the clock to be fit with a five-day turnaround between games.
He will remain on the Border all week for treatment.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to play,” Gram said.
“But I won’t put myself out there if I’m not right because we can’t go into this game with anyone not right.
“Albury is a super side, we need everyone up and at 100 per cent.
“It’s a big game, a big day for the club, I want to be out there.
“I’ve got three days to do everything right.”
Coach Jason Akermanis backed the judgment of his best player.
Akermanis said it would be up to Gram whether he played and the former St Kilda star would be named in the Hoppers’ team, regardless.
“We suspect he’ll be fine,” Akermanis said.
“But we’ll be very safe with him.
“We’re a bit concerned about the short turnaround but there is hardly anything in the injury.
“He was super cautious with it on Saturday, which should work in our favour.”
The Hoppers, who have won two of their opening three games, head to the Sportsground on Thursday with their best chance of defeating the Tigers in years.
North Albury has not beaten Albury since 2008, when the Hoppers famously fought back from a 32-point deficit to sink the Tigers by 29 points at Bunton Park on Anzac Day.
However, Albury, the best side in the competition over the past five years, has shown no sign of slowing up and sits unbeaten and second on the ladder after three rounds.
In a further boost, the Tigers are almost certain to welcome back Morris medallist Joel Mackie for Thursday’s clash with the Hoppers.
