GVGjr
13-01-2007, 09:16 AM
Aker: (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21050992-20322,00.html)
Damian Barrett
January 13, 2007 12:00am
Article from: Herald-Sun
JASON Akermanis's perfect pre-season campaign with the Western Bulldogs has been marred, with a mystery virus stripping him of six kilograms and confining him to bed.
Akermanis was absent from most training sessions this week, but is expected to resume light running from Monday.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said his Brisbane recruit had been hit hard by the illness.
"He's been really crook," Eade said. "He's lost six kilos and isn't in great shape.
"They don't know what it is, a virus of some sort. He had a bit of conjunctivitis and it just got worse after that."
Until the illness, Akermanis felt he was compiling one of his better pre-seasons.
"I should be back to normal by Monday," Akermanis said.
"When you need to rest, as I have this week, time is a beautiful thing."
The Bulldogs' four knee reconstruction victims from last year are all making progress.
Robert Murphy, who damaged his left knee against Collingwood in Round 9, is a possibility for a Round 1 return.
"He'd be a reasonable chance for that provided there were no hiccups from here," Eade said.
"We will up his running next week, work on him getting a bit more agility. He had a scope (in December), but that didn't put him back. It was just a little cyst which was trimmed."
It is hoped Mitch Hahn will return about five weeks after Murphy.
Luke Darcy joined competitive marking drills yesterday in preparation for his return.
"We're really pleased with how he's going," Eade said.
"He should be available for all of the NAB Cup."
The Dogs' first NAB Cup game is against Sydney in Canberra on February 24.
Tim Walsh will miss the pre-season competition but should be right by April after a setback with a hamstring complaint.
Damian Barrett
January 13, 2007 12:00am
Article from: Herald-Sun
JASON Akermanis's perfect pre-season campaign with the Western Bulldogs has been marred, with a mystery virus stripping him of six kilograms and confining him to bed.
Akermanis was absent from most training sessions this week, but is expected to resume light running from Monday.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said his Brisbane recruit had been hit hard by the illness.
"He's been really crook," Eade said. "He's lost six kilos and isn't in great shape.
"They don't know what it is, a virus of some sort. He had a bit of conjunctivitis and it just got worse after that."
Until the illness, Akermanis felt he was compiling one of his better pre-seasons.
"I should be back to normal by Monday," Akermanis said.
"When you need to rest, as I have this week, time is a beautiful thing."
The Bulldogs' four knee reconstruction victims from last year are all making progress.
Robert Murphy, who damaged his left knee against Collingwood in Round 9, is a possibility for a Round 1 return.
"He'd be a reasonable chance for that provided there were no hiccups from here," Eade said.
"We will up his running next week, work on him getting a bit more agility. He had a scope (in December), but that didn't put him back. It was just a little cyst which was trimmed."
It is hoped Mitch Hahn will return about five weeks after Murphy.
Luke Darcy joined competitive marking drills yesterday in preparation for his return.
"We're really pleased with how he's going," Eade said.
"He should be available for all of the NAB Cup."
The Dogs' first NAB Cup game is against Sydney in Canberra on February 24.
Tim Walsh will miss the pre-season competition but should be right by April after a setback with a hamstring complaint.