The Carlton Football Club can confirm that Oscar McDonald will miss the remainder of the 2022 AFL season due to a back stress fracture.

McDonald was selected for the opening two games of the year but was subbed out at half-time of the Blues’ Round 2 win over the Bulldogs due to back spasms.

Since then the Club has explored a number of possible treatments for the 26-year-old in order to be able to work back to full fitness.

However with McDonald unable to increase his training loads to full capacity over an extended period of time, it was decided the defender would be given the remainder of the season to recover.

“Oscar worked as hard as anyone over the summer to earn a spot in our 22 for the start of the season, that is what makes this news even more disappointing,” Carlton Head of Football Brad Lloyd said.

“For nearly two months we explored every possible avenue available to get Oscar up and going however it wasn’t to be. We will now put our focus in making sure Oscar is able to rehabilitate the injury over the remainder of the season.”

McDonald will now be placed on the Club’s inactive list.

Oscar McDonald (back)

  • Will miss the remainder of the season due to a back stress fracture
  • The Club had exhausted a number of options in order to try and increase McDonald’s training loads
  • With that being unable to occur over an extended period of time, the decision was made to rule him out for the season
  • He will now be placed on the inactive list

Zac Williams (calf)

  • Scans on Monday confirmed a high-grade calf strain
  • Will be sidelined for the next 10-12 weeks

Lewis Young (AFL Health and Safety Protocols)

  • Available to play this week

Jack Martin (calf)

  • Expected to miss one more week with a calf strain
  • Availability will be assessed again next week

Liam Stocker (AC joint)

  • Has recovered fully and is available to play this week

Josh Honey (knee)

  • Is available to play VFL this week

Harry McKay (knee)

  • Has recovered well from the surgery
  • Timeline for recovery remains the same (at least six weeks) as he begins his rehab this week

Player

Injury

Update
David Cuningham Knee Being integrated back into the skills program.
He will build up his fitness base from here as he progresses towards a return to play in the middle of the season. (Update: 21 April)
Ed Curnow Calf Experienced a calf strain at training which pushed back his return to play.
Expected to be available after the AFL mid-season bye. (Update: 3 May) 
Jack Martin Calf Expected to miss one more week with a calf strain.
Availability will be assessed again next week. (Update: 19 May)
Oscar McDonald Back Will miss the rest of the season due to a back stress fracture.
The Club had exhausted a number of options to try and increase training loads but that was unable to occur over an extended period. (Update: 19 May) 
Harry McKay Knee Has recovered well from surgery.
Timeline for recovery remains the same (at least six weeks) as he begins rehab this week. (Update: 19 May)
Mitch McGovern Hamstring It was determined that surgery was the best course of action, which he underwent on 3 May.
Expected to be sidelined for the next 10-12 weeks. (Update: 3 May) 
Luke Parks Foot Was detected as having a mid-foot injury, which has now been diagnosed as a bone stress injury.
Expected to be sidelined for the next 12 weeks. (Update: 11 May) 
Marc Pittonet Knee Suffered a PCL injury in Round 6 and is currently working through the best approach to rehabilitation.
Currently expected to be sidelined for 2-3 months. (Update: 26 April) 
Zac Williams Calf Scans confirmed a high-grade calf strain.
He is expected to be sidelined for the next 10-12 weeks. (Update: 16 May)