Crucial final injury test for Dees

Return: Captain Jack Trengove has not played in the pre-season because of a foot stress fracture. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

MELBOURNE co-captain Jack Trengove and key forward Mitch Clark must be pain-free when they climb out of bed on Sunday morning to be any chance of playing the AFL opening round.

That crucial day-after check of repaired foot fractures is more important than the ball touch and fitness from carefully monitored time in a practice match with VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions.

Trengove, recovered from a stress fracture detected in December, insists he and Clark, sidelined since halfway through last season with a more serious bone break, are ready to go against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday week.

SuperCoach is back! Free to play & you could win $50,000

"Touch wood, I haven't had any issues at all with it. I've been pulling up really well and feeling good after sessions," Trengove said.

"My training the last month, especially the last couple of weeks, has been full on to replicate what a game intensity would be like.

"It just happened to fall into place that Mitch and I were coming back at the same time and doing roughly the same things in rehab. He's down to play this weekend as well and he's tracking along really strongly coming back from a more serious injury."

Trengove and Clark worked at full pace with the rest of the squad during a 90 minute training session at Gosch's Paddock.

Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

And the Demons will apply to have young midfielder Jack Viney, recovered from a minor neck ailment, to join a trial game against Port Melbourne at Casey Fields in Cranbourne. Jordie McKenzie will also play.

Co-captain Jack Grimes described it as "massive" if Trengove and Clark were ready to return in Round 1.

"Obviously, we've got to be realistic. They've both missed a lot of footy and we can't expect them to come in and straight away have the impact they were having," Grimes said.

"Hopefully, they'll both pull up well. But if there's any doubt in the fitness staff's mind, they definitely won't rush them back into it.

"They've basically been doing a pre-season to be ready to go, so I don't think fitness would be too much of a worry."

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Crucial final injury test for Dees

Dengan url

http://pelitainformasi.blogspot.com/2013/03/crucial-final-injury-test-for-dees.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Crucial final injury test for Dees

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Crucial final injury test for Dees

sebagai sumbernya