MELBOURNE coach Steven King is weighing up all his options when it comes to how the Demons will take shape against the West Coast Eagles this Sunday.
You can watch the press conference below.
RD 9 | Media Conference | Steven King
Steven King addresses the media ahead of our Round 9 clash with West Coast.
On CEO Change
“Obviously there's noise around it, but in terms of our footy department and what we do inside here from a coaching point of view and for the players to play, I think it's doesn't really take too much focus off what we're doing.”
Balancing honourable losses
"As I mentioned after the game, I think I was really proud of the boys and the way they fought it out. But you don't get any bonus points for fighting games out. You get nothing. So in reflection, I think we played three quarters of footy where we were courageous enough to play our way, and the second quarter we went away from us playing our way and that's credit to Sydney as well."
Defence versus offence
"We don't walk away going, we want teams to kick over 100 points. I understand the way we play, albeit it's not going to be perfect, that provides opportunity at times. But when I showed some edits from the second quarter, it wasn't from attacking ball use and us getting ahead of the footy that coughed up scores. There's just some fundamental breakdowns, just some lack of concentration in some system with us behind the ball."
Mihocek's Timetable
"He actually ran yesterday which is pleasing. I think from the scan it's three to five weeks. We're hoping on the lower end, but getting moving early and hopefully getting back in a couple of weeks."
Replacing Mihocek
"We've got options. You know with the two Maxes that can play ruck and forward. Luker Kentfield played well (in the VFL). There's an opportunity for us to go smaller maybe with a Bayley Fritsch playing taller. We've got options so we'll sit down maybe after today with match committee."
Brought to you by
| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
27. Max Heath |
Shoulder |
Test
“Max has just been dealing with some ongoing shoulder soreness,” Griffith said. “We will assess his availability following our main training session this week.” |
|
35. Harrison Petty |
Hamstring |
Test
“Harrison has progressed well from his hamstring rehab and had a strong training session on the weekend,” Griffith said. “He has integrated into main training and will have to full train on Thursday during our main session. “His availability will be determined following that session.” |
|
46. Lukas Cooke |
Face |
1 week
“Lukas has recovered well from his facial surgery and is back running and back into non-contact skills,” Griffith said. “He is cleared to return to contact next week and should be available for next week.” |
|
3. Christian Salem |
Foot |
1 - 2 weeks
“Christian has returned to full training with the main group,” Griffith said. “He just needs to complete a couple of weeks of full training and then he'll be available.” |
|
26. Jed Adams |
Knee |
1 - 2 weeks
“Jed has progressed back into training with the main group,” Griffith said. “He still has to integrate into some of our contest drills, but he's progressed really well and will look to be available next week.” |
|
20. Xavier Lindsay |
Hip and groin |
3 - 4 weeks
"Xavier Lindsay also continues to make progress in his recovery from a hip and groin issue," said Griffith. |
|
7. Jack Viney |
Achilles + Back |
TBC
“Jack has been working incredibly hard with our high performance and medical team to return from his Achilles surgery that he had earlier this year,” Griffith said. “Unfortunately, while working through his rehab from that surgery, Jack has also had a lower back concern, which is something that he’s managed over the last couple of seasons. “As a result of that lower back pain, he’s been progressing slower through his post-surgery rehab program. “Pleasingly, he has been able to progress from a strength and movement perspective through his lower back, which has now allowed him to continue through his Achilles rehab. “Jack has worked incredibly hard to get on top of both of these injuries and it’s really pleasing that he’s now starting to see some progression, with the hope to see more soon.” |
|
28. Brody Mihocek |
Neck |
Season
“You never want to see an incident in our game, like what we saw with Brody on Monday,” Richardson said. “Brody is in the very best of care and was able to undergo surgery last night, which, thankfully, went as planned. “Our primary focus right now is supporting Brody, his partner Polly and their family through his recovery, while ensuring his return to full health.” 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 |
27. Max Heath
“Max has just been dealing with some ongoing shoulder soreness,” Griffith said. “We will assess his availability following our main training session this week.”
35. Harrison Petty
“Harrison has progressed well from his hamstring rehab and had a strong training session on the weekend,” Griffith said. “He has integrated into main training and will have to full train on Thursday during our main session. “His availability will be determined following that session.”
46. Lukas Cooke
“Lukas has recovered well from his facial surgery and is back running and back into non-contact skills,” Griffith said. “He is cleared to return to contact next week and should be available for next week.”
3. Christian Salem
“Christian has returned to full training with the main group,” Griffith said. “He just needs to complete a couple of weeks of full training and then he'll be available.”
26. Jed Adams
“Jed has progressed back into training with the main group,” Griffith said. “He still has to integrate into some of our contest drills, but he's progressed really well and will look to be available next week.”
20. Xavier Lindsay
"Xavier Lindsay also continues to make progress in his recovery from a hip and groin issue," said Griffith.
7. Jack Viney
“Jack has been working incredibly hard with our high performance and medical team to return from his Achilles surgery that he had earlier this year,” Griffith said. “Unfortunately, while working through his rehab from that surgery, Jack has also had a lower back concern, which is something that he’s managed over the last couple of seasons. “As a result of that lower back pain, he’s been progressing slower through his post-surgery rehab program. “Pleasingly, he has been able to progress from a strength and movement perspective through his lower back, which has now allowed him to continue through his Achilles rehab. “Jack has worked incredibly hard to get on top of both of these injuries and it’s really pleasing that he’s now starting to see some progression, with the hope to see more soon.”
28. Brody Mihocek
“You never want to see an incident in our game, like what we saw with Brody on Monday,” Richardson said. “Brody is in the very best of care and was able to undergo surgery last night, which, thankfully, went as planned. “Our primary focus right now is supporting Brody, his partner Polly and their family through his recovery, while ensuring his return to full health.”
Read Article
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.
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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