MELBOURNE'S injury list could receive a boost this weekend, with Bayley Fritsch, Brody Mihocek and Jai Culley all progressing strongly in their respective recoveries.

Head of High Performance Selwyn Griffith provided an update on the trio, who are all aiming to be available for selection.

Fritsch is continuing to build his workload after a strong training session over the weekend and is expected to reintegrate with the main group later this week.

“Bayley trained really strongly on the weekend,” Griffith said.

“We kept him out of skills with the main group, but he’ll integrate back into skills with the group with the aim to fully train on Friday to be available for this weekend.”

Mihocek has also progressed well as he works through concussion protocols.

“Brody has progressed really well through his concussion protocol,” Griffith said.

“He trained fully at the end of last week and he’ll train fully again this week to be available on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, Culley is closing in on a return after recovering from a fractured arm.

“Jai had been completing non-contact skills as he recovered from that fractured arm, but he’s continued to progress really well,” Griffith said.

“He integrated into full contact at the end of last week and will train fully this week to be available.”

Jack Henderson and Andy Moniz-Wakefield are also available after lengthy stints on the sidelines.

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Player Injury Estimated Return
20. Xavier Lindsay

20. Xavier Lindsay

Hip and groin Available

“Xavier has completed a fantastic last month of training, with a couple of weeks of full training,” Griffith said. “He’ll return to football this weekend via the VFL, playing on managed minutes. We’ll then continue to build his game time over the coming weeks.”

31. Bayley Fritsch

31. Bayley Fritsch

Ribs Test

“Bayley was removed from the game following the hit late in the last quarter,” Griffith said. “He was then sent to hospital for scans and thankfully they ruled out any internal damage. He’s still a bit sore from that knock, so we’ll asses his availability as the week goes on.”

6. Caleb Windsor

6. Caleb Windsor

Groin Test

“Caleb had some groin soreness during our main session last week, and we decided that it was best for him to be managed," Griffith said. "He has since returned to run, and the plan is for him to return to full training this week. We’ll determine his availability following our main session on Friday.”

14. Changkuoth Jiath

14. Changkuoth Jiath

Leg Test

“CJ was unable to get up for the game last week due to some ongoing soreness from that plantaris tendon rupture,” Griffith said. “He completed a conditioning and skills session on the weekend, so now we’ll look to integrate him into full training this week.”

43. Jack Henderson

43. Jack Henderson

Knee Test

“Jack missed the game last week due to an MCL strain,” Griffith said. “Pleasingly he was able to complete a skills and condition session on the weekend. We’ll look to integrate him into training this week and look to be available following Friday.”

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33. Latrelle Pickett

33. Latrelle Pickett

Concussion 1 - 2 weeks

“Unfortunately, Latrelle failed his HIA during the game and therefore entered the concussion protocols,” Griffith said. “We’ll assess him through each stage of the protocols to determine his return to play.”

37. Kade Chandler

37. Kade Chandler

Hand 1 - 2 weeks

“Unfortunately, Kade hurt his hand towards the end of the game and scans have shown that he sustained a fracture to one of the metacarpals in his hand,” Griffith said. “He’s had surgery on that hand and is recovering well now. We’ll assess his wound recovery and will be able to determine his availability following clearance from the surgeon.”

10. Daniel Turner

10. Daniel Turner

Rib 1 - 3 weeks

“Daniel has returned to some running and ball work after sustaining that rib fracture in Round 19,” Griffith said. “He will integrate into non-contact skills, and we’ll progress him based on his pain and function.”

7. Jack Viney

7. Jack Viney

Achilles + Back TBC

“As previously mentioned, Jack returned to some training integration with the main group which is a really positive sign given the length of time he’s been managing his back and Achilles issues,” Griffith said. “We’re continuing to work closely with Jack on how we can further integrate him into training and build his tolerance. This will then guide us on whether a return to play is a possibility in the coming weeks.”

26. Jed Adams

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

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.”

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13. Jai Culley

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

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.”

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20. Xavier Lindsay

20. Xavier Lindsay

“Xavier has completed a fantastic last month of training, with a couple of weeks of full training,” Griffith said. “He’ll return to football this weekend via the VFL, playing on managed minutes. We’ll then continue to build his game time over the coming weeks.”

Injury: Hip and groin
Est. Return: Available
31. Bayley Fritsch

31. Bayley Fritsch

“Bayley was removed from the game following the hit late in the last quarter,” Griffith said. “He was then sent to hospital for scans and thankfully they ruled out any internal damage. He’s still a bit sore from that knock, so we’ll asses his availability as the week goes on.”

Injury: Ribs
Est. Return: Test
6. Caleb Windsor

6. Caleb Windsor

“Caleb had some groin soreness during our main session last week, and we decided that it was best for him to be managed," Griffith said. "He has since returned to run, and the plan is for him to return to full training this week. We’ll determine his availability following our main session on Friday.”

Injury: Groin
Est. Return: Test
14. Changkuoth Jiath

14. Changkuoth Jiath

“CJ was unable to get up for the game last week due to some ongoing soreness from that plantaris tendon rupture,” Griffith said. “He completed a conditioning and skills session on the weekend, so now we’ll look to integrate him into full training this week.”

Injury: Leg
Est. Return: Test
43. Jack Henderson

43. Jack Henderson

“Jack missed the game last week due to an MCL strain,” Griffith said. “Pleasingly he was able to complete a skills and condition session on the weekend. We’ll look to integrate him into training this week and look to be available following Friday.”

Read Article
Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Test
33. Latrelle Pickett

33. Latrelle Pickett

“Unfortunately, Latrelle failed his HIA during the game and therefore entered the concussion protocols,” Griffith said. “We’ll assess him through each stage of the protocols to determine his return to play.”

Injury: Concussion
Est. Return: 1 - 2 weeks
37. Kade Chandler

37. Kade Chandler

“Unfortunately, Kade hurt his hand towards the end of the game and scans have shown that he sustained a fracture to one of the metacarpals in his hand,” Griffith said. “He’s had surgery on that hand and is recovering well now. We’ll assess his wound recovery and will be able to determine his availability following clearance from the surgeon.”

Injury: Hand
Est. Return: 1 - 2 weeks
10. Daniel Turner

10. Daniel Turner

“Daniel has returned to some running and ball work after sustaining that rib fracture in Round 19,” Griffith said. “He will integrate into non-contact skills, and we’ll progress him based on his pain and function.”

Injury: Rib
Est. Return: 1 - 3 weeks
7. Jack Viney

7. Jack Viney

“As previously mentioned, Jack returned to some training integration with the main group which is a really positive sign given the length of time he’s been managing his back and Achilles issues,” Griffith said. “We’re continuing to work closely with Jack on how we can further integrate him into training and build his tolerance. This will then guide us on whether a return to play is a possibility in the coming weeks.”

Injury: Achilles + Back
Est. Return: TBC
26. Jed Adams

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.”

Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Season
28. Brody Mihocek

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 Article
Injury: Neck
Est. Return: Season
13. Jai Culley

13. 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.

Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Season
45. Andy Moniz-Wakefield

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.”

Read Article
Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Season

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