AFL pre-season action isn’t too far away, but the long-term prognosis for Geelong gun Steven Motlop doesn’t appear overly positive.
The 22-year-old is facing a possible knee surgery after a period of rest failed to heal a nagging tendon issue in one of his knees.
One of the AFL’s most exciting prospects, Motlop was placed on light duties over the holiday season, however the extended period of rest has failed to fix the injury he carried for a part of the 2013 season.
“Last year he had some patella tendon soreness and he has still been struggling with it a little bit in the pre-season,” Geelong general football manager Neil Balme told the Herald Sun.
“There’s some chance he may need surgery, but that would be relatively minor. We actually haven’t decided what to do yet.
“He hasn’t run much lately, so it has slowed him up a little bit.
“But we are hopeful he won’t miss too much (of the season). He would still be right for most of the year.”
Key Port Adelaide piece Hamish Hartlett appears on schedule to make a round one appearance after off-season shoulder season, according to Port’s midfield coach Josh Carr.
“He’s joined into drills here and there and the great thing about it is he’s been able to run,” Carr said.
“We think he’ll be ready by round one. And he’ll probably be pushing in there by the back end of the trial games.”
Harlett played a key role in Port’s 2013 revival where the midfield showed great signs of improvement, helping carry the side to a semi-final appearance in which they narrowly lost to the Cats.
Fremantle ruckman Zac Clarke was another big improver in 2013, but his antics on New Year’s Eve threw off his pre-season preparation.
The mobile backup ruck endured a posterior ligament strain in his knee while celebrating at a music festival in his home state of Victoria.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon says the damage isn’t as bad as initially thought and Clarke should be ready for round one against an improved Magpies outfit.
“It’s at the lesser end and I expect him to be playing in Round 1,” said Lyon.
“It’s not ideal, but we want them (players) to have healthy, active lives outside of their break.
While the news regarding Clarke was good, the outlook on injured trio Jon Griffin, Kepler Bradley and Anthony Morabito isn’t as great.
All three are expected to miss round one while key midfielder Stephen Hill continues to experience thigh problems- an area that plagued the Dockers’ No.1 runner over the course of 2013.
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