FOUR DEMONS will need to past fitness tests this week as the team prepares to face Richmond on Sunday.

The club’s AFL High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith provided an injury update on Tuesday, beginning with forward Bayley Fritsch.

“Bayley sustained a dislocated finger during Round 17 but was able to complete the game,” Griffith said.

“He has since had the wound stitched, and as a result of that, will be restricted to non-sweating activity in the early stages of this week such as limited ball work.

“We’ll reassess his availability following our main session later in the week.”

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Christian Salem (foot) and Jed Adams (knee) are both set to complete their final steps of their rehab programs, hopeful of a return to football this weekend.

“Jed and Christian have both progressed well through the end stage of their re-conditioning,” Griffith said.

“They’ll integrate into full training this week and if all goes well, they will be available this weekend.”

Ruck Max Heath, who missed game time last week due to shoulder soreness, will once again need to prove his fitness ahead of this weekend.

“Unfortunately, Max was unable to get up due to his ongoing shoulder soreness,” Griffith said.

“He’ll integrate into this week’s main training and will once again need to prove his fitness to be available for this weekend’s game.”

In positive news for young Demon Lukas Cooke, the defender will return to football this weekend after overcoming a fracture to his face.

“Lukas has progressed well through his rehab of that facial fracture,” Griffith said.

“He’ll return to full training this week and will look to be available.”

Xavier Lindsay, who has been managing hip and groin soreness, will now move on to his next phase of rehab.

“Xavier has had a good couple of weeks building his running volume and intensity,” Griffith said.

“This week he’ll be completing our skill progressions with the plan to integrate him into training next week.”

Jack Viney (Achilles and back), Brody Mihocek (neck), Jai Culley (knee) and Andy Moniz-Wakefield (knee) all continue to work through their respective rehab programs.

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Player Injury Estimated Return
10. Daniel Turner

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

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

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.”

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22. Blake Howes

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

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

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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10. Daniel Turner

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.”

Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Available
8. Jake Lever

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.”

Injury: Toe
Est. Return: Test
21. Matt Jefferson

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.”

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Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Test
22. Blake Howes

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.”

Injury: Arm
Est. Return: 1 week
20. Thomas Matthews

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.”

Injury: Shoulder
Est. Return: Season
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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