The Standard | WARRNAMBOOL will be without two of its important cogs for at least a month.
Key defender Sam Wilson and midfielder Liam Hoy are sidelined with ankle injuries.
Blues coach Scott Carter said the diagnosis, while disappointing, was the best-case scenario after early fears they could miss a significant chunk of the Hampden league season.
“They’ll miss four or five weeks each,” he said.
“There are no breaks but there is ligament damage to both boys.
“Both boys landed on them (their ankles) after marking contests.
“It is bad luck but the way they looked on Saturday and the pain they were in, they’ve probably come out of it OK.
“We were fearing the worst for the boys.”
Wilson’s absence will be compounded against the Tigers, with fellow back six member Rob Bright unavailable.
But the Blues welcome back premiership duo Damien McCorkell (knee) and Angus Chirnside (osteitis pubis) for their round-four clash and will unveil a third teenage debutant in two weeks, having named marking forward James Willsher.
“We have a couple of injuries but it’s not the end of the world,” Carter said.
“We have good additions back in the team.”
Portland coach Luke Crane (groin) and Mitch Bunworth (finger) will boost the Tigers’ onball brigade.
But forward Beau Bentley is out with a shoulder complaint, along with the omitted Zac Telfer.
“There is no structural damage; it’s just a bit tender and he’s struggling to lift it above his head,” Crane said of Bentley.
Koroit has lost key forward Sam Dobson to a knee injury and wingman Jayden Whitehead (hamstring) for its clash with Port Fairy at Gardens Oval.
Port Fairy will finalise its squad after training tonight but has added ruckman Adam McCosh and teenagers Liam Howarth and Kaine Mercovich.
Boom Seagull recruit Daniel Nicholson, sidelined with a foot injury, took a step in his recovery on Wednesday, casting aside his moon boot.
Terang Mortlake has lost defender Tyson Densley for its match against Cobden at D.C. Farran Oval.
Densley (shoulder) will be replaced by teenage forward Ben Finnerty.
Bloods coach Matthew Irving said the worst-case scenario for Densley was a round-six return after the interleague break.
“He had an MRI and there was no major damage but he’ll have a rest for a week or two,” he said.
Cobden utility Brody Mahoney is a welcome addition for the Bombers after he was omitted from North Ballarat Roosters’ line-up, one week after making his VFL debut.
Back six pair Christian Koroneos (ankle) and Louis Cahill (unavailable) also come in to bolster the Bombers’ defence.
Teenage trio Ash Rosolin, Jesse Williamson and Luke Pekin make way.
“Our kids were really good last week and we had a couple of unlucky ones who go back (to the under 18½s),” Cobden co-coach Wayne Robertson said.
“We are trying to rotate a bit and get a more balanced side.”
North Warrnambool Eagles welcome back ruckman-forward Jordan Dillon for their clash against South Warrnambool at Bushfield Recreation Reserve.
Emerging tall Connor Richardson makes way.
The Roosters brought in promising ball winner Jock Blair at the expense of teenager Brad Parsons.
Undefeated Camperdown added Jesse Gallichan for the injury-prone Robbie Gordon (shoulder) for its battle with Hamilton Kangaroos, coming off two consecutive wins, at Leura Oval.
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