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 |
|---|---|---|
42. Aidan Johnson |
Hip and groin |
Test
“Aidan integrated into main training last week but unfortunately he was unable to get through the full training successfully, which is why he was unavailable for selection,” Griffith said. “We’ll continue to work with him to ensure he’s ready for a return as soon as possible, with the hope that he’s able to successfully integrate into training this week.” |
|
24. Trent Rivers |
Knee |
Test
“Trent had a really good week on the track last week integrating back into the main group,” Griffith said. “We’ll look to continue that integration this week, with his availability determined by his performance and function in training.” |
|
18. Jake Melksham |
Ankle |
1 - 2 weeks
“Jake had a really good training session on the weekend and so we’ll look to ramp up his intensity and agility this week,” Griffith said. “Our goal now, is that he’ll integrate into main training next week.” Read Article |
|
3. Christian Salem |
Foot |
2 - 3 weeks
“Christian has been unable to progress his running intensity,” Griffith said. “We’ll continue to work with him on that, with the aim to have him return to main training as quickly as possible, but it’s likely he’ll be unavailable for the coming weeks.” Read Article |
|
20. Xavier Lindsay |
Hip and groin |
2 - 4 weeks
“Xavier returned to running last week, but unfortunately, he’s presented with soreness from that progression,” Griffith said. “We want to ensure that his strength and function is at a level that allows him to perform at his best, so at this stage, we’ve pushed his return back a couple of weeks.” |
|
28. Brody Mihocek |
Hamstring |
3 - 5 weeks
“Unfortunately, Brody experienced pain after that tackle in the first quarter and scans have shown he suffered a moderate-grade hamstring strain,” said Selwyn Griffith, the club’s AFL High Performance Manager. “He was back in at the club today and has started to progress through our hamstring reconditioning protocol.” |
|
23. Shane McAdam |
Achilles |
TBC
“Shane continues to work hard recovering from that Achilles rupture,” Griffith said. “He’s just looking to build his training integration and high intensity running before we see him return to play in the coming weeks.” Read Article |
|
29. Tom Campbell |
Neck |
TBC
“Tom was involved in an innocuous collision at training and has suffered a neck injury,” Richardson said. “He’s torn a ligament and will remain in a neck brace for the next month. He’ll see a neurosurgeon this week to determine the path forward for him.” |
|
7. Jack Viney |
Achilles |
TBC
“Jack has progressed to light running duties as we continue to build his calf and Achillies strength.” Read Article |
|
13. Jai Culley |
Knee |
Season
“Unfortunately for Jai, scans have confirmed that he has ruptured his ACL, which will require a knee reconstruction,” Richardson said. “It’s a really tough blow for him, particularly given the way he has been going about his footy and the consistency he has been able to build this year.” “We have no doubt Jai will attack his rehab with the same professionalism he brings to his footy and we will ensure that he gets all the support he needs from our people through the recovery period.” |
42. Aidan Johnson
“Aidan integrated into main training last week but unfortunately he was unable to get through the full training successfully, which is why he was unavailable for selection,” Griffith said. “We’ll continue to work with him to ensure he’s ready for a return as soon as possible, with the hope that he’s able to successfully integrate into training this week.”
24. Trent Rivers
“Trent had a really good week on the track last week integrating back into the main group,” Griffith said. “We’ll look to continue that integration this week, with his availability determined by his performance and function in training.”
18. Jake Melksham
“Jake had a really good training session on the weekend and so we’ll look to ramp up his intensity and agility this week,” Griffith said. “Our goal now, is that he’ll integrate into main training next week.”
Read Article
3. Christian Salem
“Christian has been unable to progress his running intensity,” Griffith said. “We’ll continue to work with him on that, with the aim to have him return to main training as quickly as possible, but it’s likely he’ll be unavailable for the coming weeks.”
Read Article
20. Xavier Lindsay
“Xavier returned to running last week, but unfortunately, he’s presented with soreness from that progression,” Griffith said. “We want to ensure that his strength and function is at a level that allows him to perform at his best, so at this stage, we’ve pushed his return back a couple of weeks.”
28. Brody Mihocek
“Unfortunately, Brody experienced pain after that tackle in the first quarter and scans have shown he suffered a moderate-grade hamstring strain,” said Selwyn Griffith, the club’s AFL High Performance Manager. “He was back in at the club today and has started to progress through our hamstring reconditioning protocol.”
23. Shane McAdam
“Shane continues to work hard recovering from that Achilles rupture,” Griffith said. “He’s just looking to build his training integration and high intensity running before we see him return to play in the coming weeks.”
Read Article
29. Tom Campbell
“Tom was involved in an innocuous collision at training and has suffered a neck injury,” Richardson said. “He’s torn a ligament and will remain in a neck brace for the next month. He’ll see a neurosurgeon this week to determine the path forward for him.”
7. Jack Viney
“Jack has progressed to light running duties as we continue to build his calf and Achillies strength.”
Read Article
13. Jai Culley
“Unfortunately for Jai, scans have confirmed that he has ruptured his ACL, which will require a knee reconstruction,” Richardson said. “It’s a really tough blow for him, particularly given the way he has been going about his footy and the consistency he has been able to build this year.” “We have no doubt Jai will attack his rehab with the same professionalism he brings to his footy and we will ensure that he gets all the support he needs from our people through the recovery period.”
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