Davey could be sidelined for season
By Roger Vaughan
April 24, 2008 ESSENDON suffered a potentially massive blow on the eve of their AFL Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood, with Alwyn Davey hurting his knee at training.

Publicly, the Bombers are saying little about the nature of the injury, but privately they are worried he has damaged the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee and will need a season-ending reconstruction.

In a story posted on the club's website, club football manager David Calthorpe conceded the Bombers are "quite concerned".

"It was an innocuous incident, he was simply doing a running drill and there was no player contact so we are at a loss to explain exactly why it happened," Calthorpe was quoted as saying.

"It's unfair to speculate on what he has done but, based on initial tests, we are quite concerned.

"Further examination on Monday will reveal the full extent of the injury."

The Bombers have endured shocking luck with injuries so far this season and are preparing a report into a spate of hamstring problems.

Key players Scott Lucas (knee) and Mark McVeigh (hamstring) will also miss tomorrow's game, while Scott Gumbleton, Courtenay Dempsey, Leroy Jetta and Sam Lonergan are also out with hamstring injuries.

Davey was among Essendon's best in their Anzac Day loss last year and he is one of the key players in the speed-based game plan of new coach Matthew Knights.

The 23-year-old has played 19 senior games for the Bombers.

He enjoyed an outstanding debut season last year, but missed the last eight games after breaking his arm in a match against Geelong.

Davey was the only Essendon player picked in the Dream Team squad for the May 10 Hall Of Fame Tribute match against Victoria at the MCG.

The Bombers are yet to decide which of their emergencies - Nathan Lovett-Murray, Darcy Daniher or Damien Peverill - will take Davey's place in the Anzac Day side.

The Bombers recalled Courtney Johns for his first senior game this season at the expense of Lovett-Murray.