Shepparton Swans’ Mitch Grumley and Euroa’s Cohen Paul, a pair of emerging guns that earned VFL contracts over the summer, will be sidelined for an extensive period, if not for the entire season, following major injury concerns in recent weeks.
Paul suffered a significant hamstring strain against Shepparton United in round two, ruling the Carlton VFL tall out for several weeks, with a timeline on return still unclear.
Paul came runners-up in Euroa’s senior best and fairest last year at just 19 years of age, making his omission a brutal exit for the Magpies, who have started the year 0-3.
Will Creevey and Jayden Gleeson (hamstring) are other Magpies sidelined for at least a couple more weeks.
A growing list of injuries for the Swans has been compounded by a stinging blow for the season, as VFL-listed Kangaroo Grumley tore his ACL while playing for North Melbourne in the club’s showcase match against the AFL Academy.
The injury recovery time frame for an ACL tear is 12 months at standard, heartbreakingly ending Grumley’s season after earning a state league contract in February.
The Swans are also without Liam Rachele (ankle), Ben Gilberton (ACL), James Auld (concussion) and Sam Bicknell (hamstring) for this weekend’s match against Shepparton.
Ethan Warburton too faces another week on the sidelines after experiencing shoulder soreness following its dislocation in round two’s win over Kyabram, which the St Kilda VFL recruit played through but would miss round three.
For Swans opponent Shepparton, Bears product and Collingwood VFL gun Ned Byrne has yet to play this season as he deals with chronic fatigue, and will likely watch from the sidelines with playing co-coach Xavier Stevenson, who broke his thumb in round three’s clash with Mooroopna.
This weekend's One FM 98.5 GVL broadcast match is between Shepparton and Shepp Swans live from 3:30pm at Deakin Reserve. Then, listen to the KDL action between Avenel and Murchison-Toolamba from 2:00pm on Sunday.
11°C