MELBOURNE’S forward line could be bolstered by the return of Brody Mihocek this week, who fill face a fitness test prior to the side’s match against GWS.
Mihocek suffered a hamstring strain during Round 8 but is a hopeful addition to the Melbourne side that will head up to Alice Springs in Round 12.
“Brody completed a match-intensity session on the weekend and integrated into training last week,” said Selwyn Griffith, Melbourne’s AFL High Performance Manager.
“He’ll full train this week with the aim for him to be available for selection this weekend.”
Jake Lever will exit the team this week after entering concussion protocols following a contest during Sunday’s match with the Bulldogs.
“Jake has entered into concussion protocols, and we’ll progress him as symptoms allow,” Griffith said.
“If he is able to progress through the 12-day protocols, he will likely be available for our match against Collingwood, however, given it’s early days still, we’ll need to see how he progresses.”
Christian Salem will look to make further progress this week in his rehab of a foot fracture sustained in Round 5.
“Christian has progressed well in the last week,” Griffith said.
“We’ll assess this week in the hope that he’s able to return to running, which still means he’s a number of weeks away, but it’s a positive step forward in his reconditioning.”
Xavier Lindsay continues to manage hip and groin pain.
“Xavier’s still been unable to progress through any high-intensity exercise,” Griffith said.
“He continues to progress well from a strength perspective and will hopefully return to running this week.”
Jed Adams will be looking to enter the next phase of his rehab from a PCL injury sustained at training.
“Jed will have some re-imaging done this week to access how his PCL has been healing, and then that will determine his next phase of rehab,” Griffith said.
“He’s been in a heavy strength and cross-training block and has attacked that with great professionalism.”
Aidan Johnson (hip and groin), Jack Viney (Achilles) and Jai Culley (ACL) continue to work through their respective rehab programs.
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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 Article
22. 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 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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