Clubs feel the pain of short prep
THE limited time-frame for preparation has Gold Coast QAFL clubs wary of injuries that could derail their premiership campaigns.
Two rounds into an eightround regular season, clubs have already had multiple players go down with injury through the week, pre-game and during matches.
COVID-19 forced the halt to football, leaving players without a training and game structure that would usually follow pre-season campaigns that conditioned their bodies for the rigours of football.
They had only several weeks to get fit for the resumption of the season.
Palm Beach Currumbin lost Jonathan Croad (hamstring) and Jackson Emblem (knee) before its Round 2 clash against Sherwood last Saturday, while Tyler Cornish experienced hamstring tightness.
Broadbeach lost three players right after quarter-time in a brave win over Mount Gravatt away from home.
Small forward Benji Neal (hamstring) and defender Benjamin Hancock (knee) went down minutes into the second quarter, while midfielder Aiden Fyfe suffered suspected broken ribs, an impact injury.
Palm Beach Currumbin coach Jess Sinclair said he expected the lack of conditioning in many players to play a role in injuries this season.
“With limited preparation the guys’ bodies are sore, and soft tissues (injuries) will start creeping in because it’s not a normal prep,” Sinclair said.
“We will have to monitor Cornish.
“He came off at halftime on the weekend, and we will assess a few other guys.
“Even in the development team, guys had sore calves and hammies and it just comes down to conditioning.”
Broadbeach will play Labrador on Saturday at Subaru Oval, Palm Beach Currumbin will play Wilston Grange at Salk Oval, and Surfers Paradise has a bye.