Danny
25-08-2005, 06:48 AM
It's that time of year when injured players look to return early, with finals places on the line. It would be a close call for Bruce (MCL sprain) but feasible.
Melbourne may recall Bruce for vital clash
By Melissa Ryan
August 25, 2005
FOR Melbourne, "must-win" games have become the norm in recent times, and with this week no different with finals on the line against Essendon, Demons coach Neale Daniher will consider injured midfielder Cameron Bruce for the match.
Bruce has not played since round 18 against St Kilda, when he injured a medial ligament, but is pushing to regain his place and help the Demons across the line into September.
Bruce had initially been ruled out for between four to six weeks with the knee injury, but Daniher is willing to take the risk if Bruce could prove himself fit enough for the challenge.
"He's a chance, yeah. I tell you this, if we lose on Sunday, it doesn't matter how fit he is the week after, does it?" Daniher said yesterday.
Brad Miller (quad) and Matthew Whelan (calf) will also be monitored, although Miller played with a similar problem three weeks ago.
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Melbourne captain David Neitz continues to recover from his posterior cruciate ligament injury and Daniher hopes for a big performance from the key forward against the Bombers, who ended Melbourne's finals campaign last year.
"We need him. It will be brilliant timing by the skipper if he can come out this weekend and give us a hand," he said.
But there will be changes to the team, with the back line to be reconfigured from that fielded against the smaller, zippier Bulldogs. Still, experienced defender Clint Bizzell is not certain to step back in.
"He hasn't been playing all that well, simple as that. If he had been playing well and to the standard that I know he can play, we would have played him anyway (against the Bulldogs) but his form's down and he's no certainty to be coming straight back in," Daniher said.
"(He was) pretty solid (in the VFL). So was (Jared) Rivers, so was (Ryan) Ferguson, so was (Daniel) Ward, Mark Jamar was very good, Paul Johnson."
He again raised the possibility of Matthew Bate making his debut.
With the Demons' finals hopes precariously balanced after a spectacular mid-season form slump and injury crisis, Daniher is pleased with the mental fortitude of his embattled team.
"We've said that the last three weeks ? 'this is it' against Geelong, and 'this is it' against the Doggies, and 'this is it' against Essendon, and guess what, if we win, 'this is it' again," Daniher said.
"Another elimination final and the finals haven't started, but we've played in three already and we're handling it really well. I'm really happy with the mental toughness of the side, the spirit we've got in our team at the moment and we need all of that."
Melbourne may recall Bruce for vital clash
By Melissa Ryan
August 25, 2005
FOR Melbourne, "must-win" games have become the norm in recent times, and with this week no different with finals on the line against Essendon, Demons coach Neale Daniher will consider injured midfielder Cameron Bruce for the match.
Bruce has not played since round 18 against St Kilda, when he injured a medial ligament, but is pushing to regain his place and help the Demons across the line into September.
Bruce had initially been ruled out for between four to six weeks with the knee injury, but Daniher is willing to take the risk if Bruce could prove himself fit enough for the challenge.
"He's a chance, yeah. I tell you this, if we lose on Sunday, it doesn't matter how fit he is the week after, does it?" Daniher said yesterday.
Brad Miller (quad) and Matthew Whelan (calf) will also be monitored, although Miller played with a similar problem three weeks ago.
advertisement
advertisement
Melbourne captain David Neitz continues to recover from his posterior cruciate ligament injury and Daniher hopes for a big performance from the key forward against the Bombers, who ended Melbourne's finals campaign last year.
"We need him. It will be brilliant timing by the skipper if he can come out this weekend and give us a hand," he said.
But there will be changes to the team, with the back line to be reconfigured from that fielded against the smaller, zippier Bulldogs. Still, experienced defender Clint Bizzell is not certain to step back in.
"He hasn't been playing all that well, simple as that. If he had been playing well and to the standard that I know he can play, we would have played him anyway (against the Bulldogs) but his form's down and he's no certainty to be coming straight back in," Daniher said.
"(He was) pretty solid (in the VFL). So was (Jared) Rivers, so was (Ryan) Ferguson, so was (Daniel) Ward, Mark Jamar was very good, Paul Johnson."
He again raised the possibility of Matthew Bate making his debut.
With the Demons' finals hopes precariously balanced after a spectacular mid-season form slump and injury crisis, Daniher is pleased with the mental fortitude of his embattled team.
"We've said that the last three weeks ? 'this is it' against Geelong, and 'this is it' against the Doggies, and 'this is it' against Essendon, and guess what, if we win, 'this is it' again," Daniher said.
"Another elimination final and the finals haven't started, but we've played in three already and we're handling it really well. I'm really happy with the mental toughness of the side, the spirit we've got in our team at the moment and we need all of that."