MELBOURNE has provided the latest on Charlie Spargo, Aidan Johnson and Oliver Sestan, with all three continuing their respective rehabilitation programs following the club’s mid-season bye.
Charlie Spargo has made encouraging strides in his recovery from a scapula injury, progressing into contact drills ahead of a potential full training return next week.
“Spargo had progressed really well prior to the bye,” AFL High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith said.
“He was able to get some quality work in while having a bit of a mental break and has returned in great shape. He’s now in early contact progressions and the plan is to ramp that up this week, aiming for full training next week.”
Aidan Johnson is on the mend following ankle surgery, after managing discomfort through the early part of the season.
“He had a couple of incidents that compromised his training,” Griffith said.
“To best manage the rest of his year, we opted for an arthroscope. He’s recovered really well, and this week we’ll focus on strength and range of motion as his wound heals. A clearer return timeline will come in the next couple of weeks.”
Oliver Sestan also continues to progress through his hamstring rehab but remains a few weeks away from selection.
“He had a bit of pain trying to return before the bye,” Griffith said.
“Since then, he’s built-up strong numbers in the gym, returned to high-speed running and will keep increasing that speed exposure based on strength. We still expect him to miss the next couple of weeks.”
Injury List
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| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
|
10. Daniel Turner |
Knee |
Available
“Disco hyperextended his knee early in the game,” Griffith said. “Fortunately, scans have cleared him of any substantial ligament damage. “He was back into some training today and will integrate into full training in our main session this week, so he’ll be available.” |
|
8. Jake Lever |
Toe |
Test
“Jake sustained a toe injury early in the game but was fortunately able to continue,” said Melbourne AFL High-Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith. “Scans have cleared him of any fractures to the bones in his foot, but he does have a ligament strain to his big toe. “We’ll continue to manage his recovery and progress him as his function allows, with the aim of getting him back as quickly as possible.” |
|
21. Matt Jefferson |
Knee |
Test
“Jeffo pulled up well and, similar to Disco, has avoided any substantial ligament damage,” Griffith said. “He does have a little bit of bone bruising, so we’ll progress him based on his pain and function. “He was out at training today and got some running in. We’ll continue to work closely with him to see if we can integrate him this week and have him ready for our finals campaign.” Read Article |
|
22. Blake Howes |
Arm |
1 week
“Howesy continues to progress really well,” Griffith said. “He’s been getting a heap of conditioning work and non-contact skills in, and has begun to increase some of his contact progressions. “He has an appointment with his surgeon as one of his final clearance markers, but he is progressing really well.” |
|
20. Thomas Matthews |
Shoulder |
Season
“Tom had a surgical consultation last week, which confirmed that he required a shoulder reconstruction,” Griffith said. “He had that performed last week and is recovering well. “We’ll work closely with Tom to set him up for a strong off-season and a strong 2027.” |
|
26. Jed Adams |
Knee |
Season
“Following the VFL game against North Melbourne, Jed reported some knee soreness which we followed up with scans,” Griffith said. “Unfortunately, they revealed that he had ruptured his PCL. Following a surgical consultation, the recommendation was for Jed to have a PCL reconstruction. It’s incredibly unfortunate news for Jed who had worked really hard to return to play this year. “This means that Jed will be sidelined for the remainder of the season and we’ll put the best plans in place to return him to peak performance in the new year.” |
|
28. Brody Mihocek |
Neck |
Season
“Brody had some follow up scans and a review from the surgeon, which have pleasingly cleared him to begin to increase some of his physical activity, which means he’s been able to return to running and strength work in the gym,” Griffith said. “This is a really positive sign for Brody as he recovers from that neck surgery.” Read Article |
|
13. Jai Culley |
Knee |
Season
“Jai is recovering well from his knee reconstruction and is in the early phases of his program, which is predominately focused on getting his range of motion back and beginning strength work,” Griffith said. |
|
45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield |
Knee |
Season
“Andy went in for surgery today following his ACL injury,” Griffith said. “Once he recovers from that surgery, we’ll begin to progress him through the first stages of his knee rehab.” Read Article |
10. Daniel Turner
“Disco hyperextended his knee early in the game,” Griffith said. “Fortunately, scans have cleared him of any substantial ligament damage. “He was back into some training today and will integrate into full training in our main session this week, so he’ll be available.”
8. Jake Lever
“Jake sustained a toe injury early in the game but was fortunately able to continue,” said Melbourne AFL High-Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith. “Scans have cleared him of any fractures to the bones in his foot, but he does have a ligament strain to his big toe. “We’ll continue to manage his recovery and progress him as his function allows, with the aim of getting him back as quickly as possible.”
21. Matt Jefferson
“Jeffo pulled up well and, similar to Disco, has avoided any substantial ligament damage,” Griffith said. “He does have a little bit of bone bruising, so we’ll progress him based on his pain and function. “He was out at training today and got some running in. We’ll continue to work closely with him to see if we can integrate him this week and have him ready for our finals campaign.”
Read Article22. Blake Howes
“Howesy continues to progress really well,” Griffith said. “He’s been getting a heap of conditioning work and non-contact skills in, and has begun to increase some of his contact progressions. “He has an appointment with his surgeon as one of his final clearance markers, but he is progressing really well.”
20. Thomas Matthews
“Tom had a surgical consultation last week, which confirmed that he required a shoulder reconstruction,” Griffith said. “He had that performed last week and is recovering well. “We’ll work closely with Tom to set him up for a strong off-season and a strong 2027.”
26. Jed Adams
“Following the VFL game against North Melbourne, Jed reported some knee soreness which we followed up with scans,” Griffith said. “Unfortunately, they revealed that he had ruptured his PCL. Following a surgical consultation, the recommendation was for Jed to have a PCL reconstruction. It’s incredibly unfortunate news for Jed who had worked really hard to return to play this year. “This means that Jed will be sidelined for the remainder of the season and we’ll put the best plans in place to return him to peak performance in the new year.”
28. Brody Mihocek
“Brody had some follow up scans and a review from the surgeon, which have pleasingly cleared him to begin to increase some of his physical activity, which means he’s been able to return to running and strength work in the gym,” Griffith said. “This is a really positive sign for Brody as he recovers from that neck surgery.”
Read Article13. Jai Culley
“Jai is recovering well from his knee reconstruction and is in the early phases of his program, which is predominately focused on getting his range of motion back and beginning strength work,” Griffith said.
45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield
“Andy went in for surgery today following his ACL injury,” Griffith said. “Once he recovers from that surgery, we’ll begin to progress him through the first stages of his knee rehab.”
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