Danny
31-03-2005, 08:35 AM
I wouldn't exactly call it a miracle, but good news for Carlton with Injured pair Livingston and Walker both passing fitness tests.
Blues' miracle return
By Bruce Matthews
March 31, 2005
SIX days ago Blues Luke Livingston and Andrew Walker were on crutches. Tomorrow night they will be playing Essendon at the MCG - if you believe coach Denis Pagan.
"It's amazing how you get surprised in AFL football. I'm certainly surprised," Pagan said yesterday. "They have made remarkable recoveries. Both have passed fitness tests already and will be available for selection."
It was feared Livingston had torn ankle ligaments when laying a tackle late in the second quarter at Telstra Dome last Saturday. And Walker was thought to have torn a calf muscle earlier in the opening round.
Both were on crutches in Carlton's rooms after the loss to the Kangaroos and discussion centred on the number of weeks for the pair likely to spend on the sidelines.
But Pagan said scans showed no damage to either player and constant treatment enabled them to pass fitness tests at Optus Oval on Tuesday.
And both took part in the Blues' light training session at the MCG yesterday afternoon.
"He (Livingston) wrenched his ankle joint. It looked serious at the time. He had a scan and it proved negative," the coach said.
"The doc said we had to treat it symptomatically and his symptoms disappeared. He did the fitness test and he will train this afternoon.
"With Walker we couldn't get access to an ultrasound for soft tissue on Monday. It was done on Tuesday and I don't know what the terminology is, but it translated to not too much wrong with it."
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, seated alongside Pagan at Optus Oval yesterday to promote the battle for the Madden Cup, gave the impression he was as shocked as anyone with the staggering rate of the pair's recovery.
"Gee, he has stung me. We'll have a camera down there at training this afternoon. We'll just check it out because Denis is pretty slippery," Sheedy said.
The Bombers coach said he would continue to nurture the Bombers' young talent, naming 200cm Tristan Cartledge as a possible first-gamer against the Blues.
"He has been in pretty good form and he has improved a hell of a lot." Sheedy said.
Blues' miracle return
By Bruce Matthews
March 31, 2005
SIX days ago Blues Luke Livingston and Andrew Walker were on crutches. Tomorrow night they will be playing Essendon at the MCG - if you believe coach Denis Pagan.
"It's amazing how you get surprised in AFL football. I'm certainly surprised," Pagan said yesterday. "They have made remarkable recoveries. Both have passed fitness tests already and will be available for selection."
It was feared Livingston had torn ankle ligaments when laying a tackle late in the second quarter at Telstra Dome last Saturday. And Walker was thought to have torn a calf muscle earlier in the opening round.
Both were on crutches in Carlton's rooms after the loss to the Kangaroos and discussion centred on the number of weeks for the pair likely to spend on the sidelines.
But Pagan said scans showed no damage to either player and constant treatment enabled them to pass fitness tests at Optus Oval on Tuesday.
And both took part in the Blues' light training session at the MCG yesterday afternoon.
"He (Livingston) wrenched his ankle joint. It looked serious at the time. He had a scan and it proved negative," the coach said.
"The doc said we had to treat it symptomatically and his symptoms disappeared. He did the fitness test and he will train this afternoon.
"With Walker we couldn't get access to an ultrasound for soft tissue on Monday. It was done on Tuesday and I don't know what the terminology is, but it translated to not too much wrong with it."
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, seated alongside Pagan at Optus Oval yesterday to promote the battle for the Madden Cup, gave the impression he was as shocked as anyone with the staggering rate of the pair's recovery.
"Gee, he has stung me. We'll have a camera down there at training this afternoon. We'll just check it out because Denis is pretty slippery," Sheedy said.
The Bombers coach said he would continue to nurture the Bombers' young talent, naming 200cm Tristan Cartledge as a possible first-gamer against the Blues.
"He has been in pretty good form and he has improved a hell of a lot." Sheedy said.