southerncross
24-05-2007, 06:04 AM
Injury woes strike Dogs (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21784521%255E20322,00.html)
THE Western Bulldogs are confronting a host of injury concerns as they prepare for their "home" clash against Sydney in Canberra on Sunday.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5495982,00.jpg
In doubt: Ryan Griffen leaves Western Bulldogs training yesterday with a heavily bruised leg. Picture: Michael Klein
Exciting defender Ryan Griffen has been ruled out after breaking down at training yesterday, star pair Brad Johnson and Luke Darcy are fighting respective ankle and hip problems, and tall backman Cameron Wight is in doubt with a groin strain.
While Darcy could play, Johnson is believed to be only a 50-50 chance to shake off a corked hip.
Griffen had to leave the training track yesterday when his right leg, which is sporting a huge bruise from a corked thigh suffered against Collingwood last weekend, went into spasms while he was warming up.
Coach Rodney Eade said an ultrasound on the 20-year-old revealed some blood build-up in his hamstring and he will need an MRI scan to reveal the extent of the problem.
"There's a little bit of uptake of blood in his hamstring, but hopefully there is no muscle damage," Eade said.
Griffen has played every game this season but is certain to join Jordan McMahon, who is also nursing a corked thigh, on the sidelines this weekend.
It was a sour start to the Bulldogs' change of routine as they trained on synthetic grass at a soccer complex in Thornbury.
However brighter news for the Dogs was the sight of Chris Grant back training with the main group for the first time since having groin surgery.
After producing their best football of the season to claim a come-from-behind victory against Collingwood on Sunday, the Bulldogs have major injury woes for their clash against the Swans.
"They played really well at the weekend, they've just about got a full squad, so they'll have about their best team, so it's a good challenge for us," Eade said.
"We're further advanced than the last two years -- (the Dogs lost at the SCG to the Swans by 26 points in 2006 and by 13 points in 2005) -- but I think for us to be a side that's showing its improving we need to do well on the weekend."
The Dogs would dearly love the game to be at Telstra Dome, but Eade remained philosophical about playing in Canberra.
"We'd certainly prefer it at home, there's no worries about that," Eade said.
"I think everybody has said that, David Smorgon has told the members that, but the reality of our economic situation is that we know we've got to play some home games away. That's fine."
Eade stressed that physical pressure and intensity -- the Swans' specialty is precisely what is required to beat them.
"The last three weeks have shown we've improved in that area. I think the good sides, what they do is do it consistently, and with the evenness of the competition now you need to do it consistently," Eade said.
THE Western Bulldogs are confronting a host of injury concerns as they prepare for their "home" clash against Sydney in Canberra on Sunday.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5495982,00.jpg
In doubt: Ryan Griffen leaves Western Bulldogs training yesterday with a heavily bruised leg. Picture: Michael Klein
Exciting defender Ryan Griffen has been ruled out after breaking down at training yesterday, star pair Brad Johnson and Luke Darcy are fighting respective ankle and hip problems, and tall backman Cameron Wight is in doubt with a groin strain.
While Darcy could play, Johnson is believed to be only a 50-50 chance to shake off a corked hip.
Griffen had to leave the training track yesterday when his right leg, which is sporting a huge bruise from a corked thigh suffered against Collingwood last weekend, went into spasms while he was warming up.
Coach Rodney Eade said an ultrasound on the 20-year-old revealed some blood build-up in his hamstring and he will need an MRI scan to reveal the extent of the problem.
"There's a little bit of uptake of blood in his hamstring, but hopefully there is no muscle damage," Eade said.
Griffen has played every game this season but is certain to join Jordan McMahon, who is also nursing a corked thigh, on the sidelines this weekend.
It was a sour start to the Bulldogs' change of routine as they trained on synthetic grass at a soccer complex in Thornbury.
However brighter news for the Dogs was the sight of Chris Grant back training with the main group for the first time since having groin surgery.
After producing their best football of the season to claim a come-from-behind victory against Collingwood on Sunday, the Bulldogs have major injury woes for their clash against the Swans.
"They played really well at the weekend, they've just about got a full squad, so they'll have about their best team, so it's a good challenge for us," Eade said.
"We're further advanced than the last two years -- (the Dogs lost at the SCG to the Swans by 26 points in 2006 and by 13 points in 2005) -- but I think for us to be a side that's showing its improving we need to do well on the weekend."
The Dogs would dearly love the game to be at Telstra Dome, but Eade remained philosophical about playing in Canberra.
"We'd certainly prefer it at home, there's no worries about that," Eade said.
"I think everybody has said that, David Smorgon has told the members that, but the reality of our economic situation is that we know we've got to play some home games away. That's fine."
Eade stressed that physical pressure and intensity -- the Swans' specialty is precisely what is required to beat them.
"The last three weeks have shown we've improved in that area. I think the good sides, what they do is do it consistently, and with the evenness of the competition now you need to do it consistently," Eade said.