Loss cuts deep for Swans
SYDNEY’S finals chances have taken a big hit, with the full extent of the damage from Thursday night’s 12-point loss to Geelong revealed in scans and in surgery.
Jarrad McVeigh has had a plate attached to his fractured collarbone and will be out for six matches, while Dan Hannebery will miss three weeks with a calf strain.
But Kieren Jack remains a chance of lining up against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium next Sunday.
McVeigh’s absence is by far the biggest loss, with the veteran defender in outstanding form.
The 33-year-old is Sydney’s fourth leading possession-getter, averaging 21.9 a game.
“It is always difficult this far out to put a hard and fast prognosis on it, but we will say six weeks,” Swans football manager Tom Harley said.
“He will have a plate inserted, recover from the surgery and rehab accordingly.”
Hannebery picked up his calf injury early in the match against the Cats but was forced to play on because Jack was ruled out of action in the first quarter. The strain is similar to the one Hannebery suffered during pre-season.
“We are certainly not going to rush him back,” Harley said.
“We will give him every opportunity to get himself fully fit and really affect the remaining month of the season. We will let the injury recover and then probably put another week on top so he can get some good training and match conditioning under his belt.”
Jack’s knee is much better than initially feared and the 10day break before the Kangaroos clash at Etihad Stadium next Sunday is in his favour.
“It is a grade-one medial so we will assess him later in the week,” Harley said.