There is no hiding away from it, 2015 has been the year of the injury and it has struck again this week. Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett has joined the enormous injury toll, with his season ended due to a medial ligament injury in his knee.
Another casualty from the Adelaide game is utility Alex Sexton who has succumbed to a lingering ITB (Iliotibal band syndrome) injury – the thick band of muscle tissue that runs down the outside of the quad.
GC SUNS head physiotherapist, Adam Russell, revealed Sexton will miss at least one week with the injury after it flared up again at Adelaide Oval last Saturday.
“We’ve been managing an ITB injury of his for a couple of weeks now. It’s just flared up again, so he’ll definitely miss this weekend. We’re doing all we can to make him available for next week,” Russell told SUNS TV on Tuesday afternoon.
In more positive news, dashing defender Adam Saad and ruckman Tom Nicholls are set to return to Rodney Eade’s side after overcoming a groin and quad issues respectively.
Saad has missed the last three games due to a persistent groin complaint that Rodney Eade and Russell have previously identified as workload-based. But now after adequate rest, the mature-aged rookie only needs to get through training on Thursday to make a return.
“Adam Saad’s had a really good week on the training paddock. He’s ticked off his speed and his change of direction,” Russel said.
“So all going well on Thursday, as long as he can get through the main session, he’ll be available to play this weekend.”
After initially appearing likely to miss the remainder of his debut season, first-round draft pick Jarrod Garlett is set to return from an ankle reconstruction via the NEAFL this weekend.
The exciting West Australian product sustained the injury in the opening quarter of round five’s QClash win over Brisbane and has glided through his rehabilitation program to salvage something from his first year at Metricon Stadium.
“In really good news, Jarrod Garlett’s off the long-term injury list. He had his medial ankle reconstructed after the Brisbane game,” Russell said.
“So he’s a little bit ahead of schedule which is really nice. The next six weeks will really give him a good lead in to the pre season.”
Experienced utility Danny Stanley is also available for selection again after overcoming a medial ligament strain that has forced him to miss the last six matches.
The 27-year-old suffered the knee injury against Fremantle back in round 11, compounding a frustrating year with injury after also sustaining a quad injury earlier in the year as well as concussion.
Optomo Injury Report: Round Eighteen
Alex Sexton joins Gary Ablett as a casualty from last weekend's loss to Adelaide, but Adam Saad and Tom Nicholls are likely to return against West Coast.
