The Western Bulldogs have been hit by the loss of midfield star Ryan Griffen for Sunday’s opening round AFL clash with West Coast.
The talented line-breaker fractured a finger on his left hand during the Bulldogs’ last pre-season match, against Geelong.
He trained on Monday, but used only his right hand and coach Brendan McCartney said Griffen had no chance of facing the Eagles at Etihad Stadium.
“He won’t play on the weekend, we don’t mind saying that,” McCartney told reporters.
“But he’ll be a strong chance to be available the week after.”
It is a major blow, with the 25-year-old the club’s best and fairest in 2010, third last season and again one of the Bulldogs’ best performers this pre-season.
The Bulldogs were already depleted in defence ahead of their meeting with a potent Eagles attack, with key pair Dale Morris and Tom Williams both sidelined.
McCartney is not the AFL’s only new head coach facing significant injury obstacles as he begins his reign.
Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley is likely to be without courageous skipper Nick Maxwell, in what will also be an injury-depleted defence for Friday night’s blockbuster clash with Hawthorn.
Maxwell had been hoping to recover in time from an ankle injury sustained in the pre-season.
But fellow backman Heath Shaw said on Monday it was “pretty doubtful” the skipper would be ready for the preliminary final rematch.
“We’ve got our main (training) session tomorrow and if he doesn’t get through that then he won’t play.”
The Magpies were already expected to be without tall defenders Chris Tarrant and Nathan Brown, with Alan Didak and Ben Johnson also on the injury list and midfielder Sharrod Wellingham serving a club-imposed suspension.
Port Adelaide’s defence will also be stretched for Sunday’s meeting with St Kilda at AAMI Stadium.
The Power have ruled out key defender Jackson Trengove, who fractured a finger in their last pre-season match, against Melbourne.
Port football manager Peter Rohde said it was smarter to leave Trengove out for the Saints clash than risk a more severe injury.
“The medical advice is that if he plays this week and displaces the fracture he may require surgery and need an extensive break from playing,” Rohde said.
Sydney have revealed youngster Luke Parker fractured his jaw in Saturday night’s season-opener, in the clash which cost Greater Western Sydney veteran James McDonald a two-match suspension.
Parker will be sidelined for two to three weeks with the hairline fracture, although the Swans do not play this weekend.
Sydney hope experienced pair Ryan O’Keefe and Rhyce Shaw, who missed the Giants clash, can push for a return against Fremantle in round two.
