Another Injury...

[Beats]

Just reported that Wona has torn a meniscus in his knee and is going in for surgery this week, the injury was sustained in the Scorpions match on the weekend.
Early signs suggest he will be out for 6+ weeks.

And the injuries begin...

 

[Billy Bob65]

Dee Meesen's season over, six weeks for 'Wona'

By Steve Lavell 9:35 PM Wed 06 May, 2009

MELBOURNE has been dealt a double blow with significant injuries to ruckman John Meesen and small forward Austin Wonaeamirri confirmed on Wednesday night.

Meesen's season is over after a stress fracture was discovered in his right foot while Wonaeamirri, who was grounded by a hamstring tear in the pre-season, damaged knee cartilage when playing for VFL affiliate Casey on Saturday afternoon and could miss up to six weeks.

Twenty-two-year-old Meesen had played the last four games for the Demons but pulled up sore from Sunday's loss to Geelong at the MCG.

Traded from Adelaide at the end of 2007, Meesen struggled to have an impact in his first year at Melbourne and spent it in the VFL.

A first-round draft pick in 2004, he played just two games with the Crows but was finally enjoying some progression until this setback.

"John has performed well at the senior level this year and this news is obviously very disappointing for both he and the club," general manager of football operations Chris Connolly said in a statement released by Melbourne.

"The focus will now turn to preparing John for the commencement of the 2010 pre-season."

Meesen will have surgery on his right talus bone in the coming weeks, though Wonaeamirri will be operated on within days.

Wonaeamirri was one of the Demons' shining lights in a disappointing 2008, earning an NAB AFL Rising Star nomination and finishing second in their goalkicking with 24 from his 18 games.

The 20-year-old tore his hamstring in Melbourne's NAB Cup loss to Hawthorn in February and re-injured the muscle at training in March, but was again nearing senior selection.

However, scans revealed a tear in the lateral meniscus in his knee, which he twisted in Saturday's game.

"This is an unfortunate injury for Austin, but we look forward to having him available for selection in the second half of the year," Connolly said.

Melbourne already has emerging defender Colin Garland (foot) out for an indefinite period while ruckman Mark Jamar (foot) is also on its long-term injury list.

Draftee Sam Blease fractured his fibula last week but experienced utility Brad Green hopes to return from a broken jaw in a fortnight.
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

 

[Bartram_Class]

That's at least four we have on the long-term injury list, Meesen, Garland, Blease and Jamar.

Only one elevated so far though, how far behind are Valenti, McKenzie and Hughes?

 

[Dez!]

Jamar will be coming off the LTI in a week or so one would assume with him being listed as a "test" on the injury lists.

 

[chopper41]

All these injuries will be music to pro tanking ears.

 

[cannons]

It just keeps getting better.

To those suggesting Meesen may be delisted, Connolly stating that they will focus on preparing him for 2010 dismisses that idea.

 

[Goobernutty]

At least now we won't have to worry about the issue of tanking, we're not going to win very many more if we keep losing these guys.

Losing Meesen is just sad & annoying as he was coming along nicely, but at least we've got Jamar & Spencer waiting to come back on, so our ruck stocks aren't that bad in the long run, but Wonna was so great last year, I was waiting for him to go nuts with the goal-kicking this year. Still, it gives us a chance to play Valenti or Hughes.

 

[cannons]

I wouldn't mind seeing Hughes get a chance, he is a really exciting prospect with a lot of flair. It would be interesting to see whether his good form in the VFL could translate to a reasonable performance at AFL level. Valenti is obviously a possibility, and his consistency means the club can rely on him to perform well. McKenzie has been in great form too, so it will be intriguing to see how the club handle this situation. I would be tempted to see what Hughes can offer initially, as Melbourne really has nothing to lose at this point.

 

[Deefolt]

fire the fitness people, this is getting ridiculous, 3 years in a row, this has happened.