Port Adelaide's John Butcher with new recruit Campbell Heath. Picture: Tait Schmaal. Source: The Advertiser
PORT Adelaide key forward John Butcher is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of the AFL premiership season.
One of the players central to the Power's revival, Butcher is making slow progress from off-season hip surgery and has yet to join in competitive training.
He is at least a month away from playing.
"It's disappointing for Johnny and it's disappointing for the club because we're really keen to get him going," said Port coaching and strategy director Alan Richardson.
"Johnny is a critical player for us, there's absolutely no doubt about that. Apart from what he offers us individually, he takes some pressure off Jay Schulz and all of a sudden allows (Justin) Westhoff to perhaps not get the second big gorilla defender. So we'd like him in the side."
Butcher - a strong contested-marker - missed the final eight games of last season with hip soreness after missing three with the same injury earlier in the year. He had a labral tear repaired at the end of the season.
Richardson said Butcher's training could "only be described as a notch above passive at this stage".
"He's done straight-line running and a little bit of lateral movement work but there's been nothing competitive yet," he said.
"So he's still got a bit of work to do to get back playing but the positive is that he hasn't had any more discomfort, which is pleasing. Hopefully in the next week or two he'll be able to ramp up his program."
While Butcher is struggling to regain fitness, ace midfielder Robbie Gray is ahead of schedule in his comeback from a knee reconstruction.
However, the Power says it will take a conservative approach with the injury-plagued 24-year-old, who horrifically tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Collingwood in round four last year.
The injury was so severe that Port expected Gray would be sidelined for a year.
"As far as knees go, Robbie's was a beauty - he did some real damage," Richardson said.
"But he's going really well and it would be fair to say he is exceeding the expectations of the conditioning and medical team.
"But while he's such an important player and a member of our leadership team now we won't be tempted to rush him back in. There will be no thought of that whatsoever. He won't play until he's completely right."
Richardson said Gray would need three weeks of competitive training.
Port's other main injury concern is ace recruit Angus Monfries, who suffered a grade one hamstring strain in the NAB Cup clash against Adelaide. However, barring a setback, he will be fit for round one.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Butcher cut down by pre-season surgery
Dengan url
http://astagaberita.blogspot.com/2013/02/butcher-cut-down-by-pre-season-surgery.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Butcher cut down by pre-season surgery
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Butcher cut down by pre-season surgery
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar