THE Blues could welcome back a number of players for Saturday afternoon’s clash against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.
Head of Football Andrew McKay revealed Levi Casboult (rib), Matthew Kennedy (ankle), Alex Silvagni (achilles) and Jarrod Pickett (wrist) were all in the mix to be available for selection pending fitness tests later this week.
“Levi (Casboult) has been out for quite some time with that fractured rib. He’s been training well over the past couple of weeks. He’ll still need to get through training and we’ll need to test him at the end of the week but we are hopeful he’ll be available for selection,” McKay said.
Levi Casboult could play his first game since Round 7 against the Dockers on Saturday. (Photo: AFL Media)
“Matthew (Kennedy) has had bone bruising on that ankle of his. He’ll be a test at the end of the week. Again, he’ll need to get through the whole week before he’s deemed available.
“Alex (Silvagni) has been out for quite some time with that achilles problem. He’s been training really well for the past week or so. He’ll be a test at the end of the week too and we’re hopeful he’ll be available for selection.
“Jarrod has come on leaps and bounds. He’s obviously had that fractured scaphoid and has been training the past couple of weeks too. He’ll be a test at the end of the week to see if he’s available for selection.”
Meanwhile, Kym Lebois and Cillian McDaid are also in line to return to the field through the VFL this weekend, having overcome collarbone and foot injuries respectively.
“Kym fractured that collarbone a number of weeks ago but he’s been training for a couple of weeks now and will be a test at the end of the week. We expect him to be available,” McKay said.
“Cillian has been out with a reaction in his foot. He’ll also be a test. He’s been training lately too so we’re hopeful he’ll be available for the VFL.”
Impressive defender Caleb Marchbank looks set to be a welcome return to the Blues’ lineup within the next fortnight, as he continues his recovery from bone bruising in his ankle.
“Caleb has been dealing with that bone bruising around his ankle. He’s still another week or so away before we can consider him,” he said.
The Club continues to take a conservative approach in the management of captain Marc Murphy’s plantar fascia injury.
“Marc has been out for a few weeks now with that plantar fascia injury. We’re managing that really conservatively too so he’ll still be another two to three weeks away from returning,” McKay said.
Meanwhile, defensive duo Ciaran Byrne and Harrison Macreadie remain a couple of weeks away from a return as the pair manage soft tissue injuries.
“Ciaran Byrne is still sidelined with that quad injury. It’s been a while but we’re treating it conservatively. He’ll still be another two weeks away,” McKay said.
“Harrison is recovering well from a hamstring injury. He’s another couple of weeks away before he’ll be considered for selection.”
After a week off with the scheduled bye round, the Blues take on the travelling Dockers in the Round 13 clash at Etihad Stadium on Saturday at 1:45pm.
INJURY LIST - JUNE 12
Levi Casboult – Rib – Test
Matthew Kennedy – Ankle – Test
Alex Silvagni – Achilles – Test
Jarrod Pickett – Scaphoid – Test
Kym Lebois – Collarbone – Test
Cillian McDaid – Foot – Test
Caleb Marchbank – Ankle – 1 week
Ciaran Byrne – Quad – 2 weeks
Marc Murphy – Plantar Fascia – 2-3 weeks
Harrison Macreadie – Hamstring – 2 weeks
Tom Williamson - Back - season
Sam Docherty - Knee – season
