Sifting through the bombers injury code

[Danny]

The bombers are definitely living up to their reputation of keeping everyone in the dark about their injured players this year. The latest example being the condition of Adam McPhee who is listed as an 'abdominal strain' on Bombers.com, yet there are rumours around that he is in fact suffering from Osteitis Pubis which could be season ending.

Query on McPhee groin injury
6:26:31 PM Wed 13 July, 2005
Scott Spits
Sportal for afl.com.au

Essendon has denied Adam McPhee is battling osteitis pubis, but the versatile utility will miss Friday night's clash against Collingwood at the MCG.

McPhee won the Bombers' best-and-fairest award in 2004 in his second season at Windy Hill after crossing from Fremantle, but he has appeared restricted in his usual movement at various times this season.

It has been reported that Essendon will rest McPhee for the rest of the season due to the debilitating groin complaint, but the club says he may only miss the clash against the Magpies with an abdominal strain.

"He has a strained abdominal muscle and we actually considered playing him this week. But we decided to take the cautious approach and give him this week off. I'm confident he will play next week," Essendon fitness coach John Quinn told essendonfc.com.au.

The Bombers will already be without their skipper James Hird (broken finger) and ruckman Jason Laycock (calf strain).

Tristan Cartledge, who has two senior appearances under his belt, is the obvious replacement for Laycock in the depleted ruck division, already without the suspended David Hille.

Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy admitted McPhee's performances this season had been restricted by injury.

"There's no value him playing if he can't play to his fullest. We've seen that on match days," Sheedy said on Wednesday.

With Essendon holding a 5-10 record to be out of finals contention, Sheedy has already pledged to play as many young players as possible for the rest of the season to expose them to senior football.

[Unregistered]

And does anyone know what happened to Andrew Welsh? He was listed as of Thursday night but didn't take the field, being replaced by Jay (?) Nash. There was no mention or explanation of this on afl or bombersfc websites.
He's been a handy dreamteamer all season so if he's out, I'd like to know about it.

[Dunlop65]

And does anyone know what happened to Andrew Welsh? He was listed as of Thursday night but didn't take the field, being replaced by Jay (?) Nash. There was no mention or explanation of this on afl or bombersfc websites.
He's been a handy dreamteamer all season so if he's out, I'd like to know about it.
Flu - the real stuff apparently not the deadly Essendon variety that often strikes other body parts without warning. Mark Bolton is also ill with it.

As for some of the other Bomber players: insider sources suggest Laycock is likely to be out for 4 not the 2 that Essendon is reporting and for some reason they're still listing Reynolds as back in 5 when 1-2 is more likely.

[Danny]

Welsh should be back with Hird. Sheedy quoted by Sportal:

"the club's medical staff hadn't been able to accurately diagnose McPhee's injury, but the 2004 best-and-fairest winner would play again this season."

SO we might see him on the park this season again but stuffed if we're going to tell you why or when.

Hird, Welsh to return for Bombers
6:03:31 PM Wed 20 July, 2005
Scott Spits
Sportal for afl.com.au

Essendon is likely to be bolstered by the return of skipper James Hird and defender Andrew Welsh for Saturday night's challenging clash against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

Dean Rioli is poised to stay in the team despite not training on Wednesday after suffering an ankle injury late in last Friday night's win over Collingwood at the MCG, while utility Adam McPhee will miss the clash as he battles a persistent groin/stomach injury.

Hird has missed just one match with a finger injury and Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy said he preferred that Hird didn't rush back, but the decision will be left to the captain. Hird is expected to wear a hand guard against the Lions.

Welsh was a late withdrawal from the 26-point win over Collingwood due to the flu.

Sheedy said the club's medical staff hadn't been able to accurately diagnose McPhee's injury, but the 2004 best-and-fairest winner would play again this season.

"I think he'll play again, but there's no major rush to get him back if it makes it worse," Sheedy said at Windy Hill on Wednesday.

"They really can't put a finger on it, whether it's stomach, or groin, or wherever. So you don't rush those sorts of things."

The veteran coach confirmed several Essendon players were currently battling the flu, but he wouldn't reveal their identities.

"They've got a sniff, that's about all. It shouldn't hurt them."

Sheedy said defender Ty Zantuck, who hasn't played since round 12, would return this week with the Bendigo Bombers.

"His knee injury was a lot worse than what a lot of people realised and he wasn't far off having an operation," he said.

While Sheedy said the club's medical staff were confident Rioli would be fit enough to play on Saturday night, he admitted veteran Justin Murphy is a chance to be dropped as Essendon continues to experiment with young players.

He said the Dons would find it hard to drop any of the younger players, particularly after an impressive victory over the Magpies.

"We've played most of the kids, most of the year. Most of them have played nine, 10, 13, 14 games. Except for the last week or so we did throw another couple in. Most of them will stay in."

When asked if young forward Courtney Johns - who has had very few possessions in two senior games after overcoming a chronic hip injury - needed some time in the VFL, Sheedy replied: "You may as well play these guys in and see if they've got anything for you.

"In the end, you've just got to say, get out there and give it your best shot.

"If there's a kid or two in the seconds and they deserve their opportunity, we'll put them in for a couple, too.

"That's the way I'm looking at it. Everyone should get two or three games between now and the end of the year."

Utility Jobe Watson is a player who may get another game in the seniors. "He played OK (in the VFL) last week but it's hard to judge. You're going from mud football in Bendigo to on top of the ground footy up in Queensland."