Hi all,
An article from today's Melbourne Age (www.realfooty.com.au)...
Knee setback for Blue Kouta
By Rohan Connolly
February 24, 2005
Carlton captain Anthony Koutoufides has had a setback in his preparation for the AFL season after a troublesome old knee injury flared following the Blues' Wizard Cup win over Essendon last Sunday.
Koutoufides, who had fluid drained from his knee by orthopaedic surgeon John Bartlett on Tuesday, is in doubt for Carlton's pre-season quarter-final against Melbourne on Sunday.
And the club is unlikely to take too many risks with its champion utility in the lead-up to the premiership season, still a month away.
The setback is more bad luck for the Blues skipper, who had enjoyed his best pre-season for years until complaining of soreness more than 24 hours after the win over the Bombers.
"He didn't train tonight, he just did some stationary skills, but we don't think it's much of an issue, and I'm sure he'll train on Friday," Carlton coach Denis Pagan said last night.
"I hope he's right for this week. I think he will be. He just had a bit of fluid on the knee, and had it drained. We'll just see how it goes from there. You don't like it, of course, but with anyone who's had any knee surgery, that occasionally happens.
"Lance Whitnall had it two or three times last year, it happens with people who have had that type of knee surgery."
Unlike a year ago, when a persistent hamstring injury kept him out of action for the first half of the season, Koutoufides had enjoyed a thorough preparation over summer. He spent time on the bench during last Sunday's win, although Pagan last night called his performance "solid".
Carlton has to decide how hard to push Koutoufides over the remaining few weeks until the season proper begins.
"The dilemma you have with Anthony is that as you get older it takes a bit longer to run into a bit of form," Pagan said. "But if you put them all in cotton wool, when it comes to the real stuff, they're that rough or rusty that they can't get near the footy."
An article from today's Melbourne Age (www.realfooty.com.au)...
Knee setback for Blue Kouta
By Rohan Connolly
February 24, 2005
Carlton captain Anthony Koutoufides has had a setback in his preparation for the AFL season after a troublesome old knee injury flared following the Blues' Wizard Cup win over Essendon last Sunday.
Koutoufides, who had fluid drained from his knee by orthopaedic surgeon John Bartlett on Tuesday, is in doubt for Carlton's pre-season quarter-final against Melbourne on Sunday.
And the club is unlikely to take too many risks with its champion utility in the lead-up to the premiership season, still a month away.
The setback is more bad luck for the Blues skipper, who had enjoyed his best pre-season for years until complaining of soreness more than 24 hours after the win over the Bombers.
"He didn't train tonight, he just did some stationary skills, but we don't think it's much of an issue, and I'm sure he'll train on Friday," Carlton coach Denis Pagan said last night.
"I hope he's right for this week. I think he will be. He just had a bit of fluid on the knee, and had it drained. We'll just see how it goes from there. You don't like it, of course, but with anyone who's had any knee surgery, that occasionally happens.
"Lance Whitnall had it two or three times last year, it happens with people who have had that type of knee surgery."
Unlike a year ago, when a persistent hamstring injury kept him out of action for the first half of the season, Koutoufides had enjoyed a thorough preparation over summer. He spent time on the bench during last Sunday's win, although Pagan last night called his performance "solid".
Carlton has to decide how hard to push Koutoufides over the remaining few weeks until the season proper begins.
"The dilemma you have with Anthony is that as you get older it takes a bit longer to run into a bit of form," Pagan said. "But if you put them all in cotton wool, when it comes to the real stuff, they're that rough or rusty that they can't get near the footy."
