The club’s GM – Football Operations Andrew McKay said Waite, who was subbed out of last Friday night’s match with Collingwood after sustaining a knee injury late in the first quarter, would be further assessed later in the week.
"Jarrad obviously copped a knock to the knee and sustained some bone bruising,” McKay said. “It’s quite fortunate in that we originally feared there was more damage than that, but with bone bruising we’re still waiting to see some quick recovery and we’re monitoring it.”
McKay believed that Eddie Betts, who suffered a “stinger” to the hip in the same match, “had a run this morning and seemed fine, so he should be right”. He also said that Josh Bootsma (hamstring) and Heath Scotland (hip) should also be available for selection and added that Shaun Hampson, who suffered medial ligament damage to his knee in Sunday’s Northern Blues-Essendon contest at Windy Hill, had escaped surgery, but would be sidelined for four weeks.
McKay also advised that David Ellard, who was near completion of his rehab from a calf complaint, suffered a setback on the track last week and damaged another area of the calf.
“He (Ellard) hurt his calf, but it’s not in the same spot as the original injury, so I suppose that’s one ‘plus’,” McKay said.
“But he’ll be unavailable for three to four weeks.”
In further news, Jeremy Laidler had a screw removed from his knee earlier this week. McKay explained that with the Northern Blues experiencing the bye round at the weekend, Laidler took the liberty of having the screw surgically removed “because it was causing some discomfort”.
Tom Bell
Jaw
2 weeks
Andrew Collins
Foot
3 weeks
David Ellard
Calf
3-4 weeks
Shaun Hampson
Knee
4 weeks
Patrick McCarthy
Foot
4 weeks
Rhys O’Keeffe
Foot
2-3 weeks
Jarrad Waite
Knee
Test
