Injury Update Pre-season - 2014

[bornadog]

Link (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2013-12-18/steady-progress-in-rehab)

Diligence and dedication has been a common theme in the rehabilitation group and Western Bulldogs Medical Services Manager Andrew McKenzie is confident in the progress of the current crop.

A ruptured ACL cut Clay Smith’s season short in round 16 against Essendon but McKenzie said the dogged midfielder was making steady progress.

“Clay is tracking really well, his knee is in a good state, he’s strong, he’s lifting well, he’s running well,” McKenzie said.

“He’s just starting to do some change of direction activities, so we are really happy with where he’s at.”

Forward Shaun Higgins has been working hard to overcome a broken navicular bone in his foot, restricting him to the sidelines since round three.

Medical staff have taken a cautious approach with the 26-year-old’s rehabilitation throughout the year but Higgins is beginning to increase his workload.

“Shaun’s load has been progressively increasing, he spent a couple of months running on the alter-g machine after we were given good feedback around his navicular from his surgeon,” he said.

“The surgeon has again recently reviewed that and is very happy with the health of the navicular so he has started running outside and we are happy with how he is.”

A post-season hip cleanup has delayed Christian Howard’s start to the pre-season, but he too is beginning to make important gains.

“Howie is also going well, he’s had no setbacks. He is currently running on the alter-g machine and is due to start running outside this week,” he said.

Tom Williams, Brett Goodes and Jason Johannisen have all re-joined the main training group this pre-season after spending an extended time on the sidelines throughout 2013.

[bornadog]

NEW Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen could be in doubt for the start of the NAB Challenge after experiencing back tightness last week.
While Griffen’s complaint was not considered serious, the Bulldogs said they were being cautious with the star midfielder and had backed off his training.
Griffen has missed a couple of sessions, including yesterday’s training run at Whitten Oval, but the Bulldogs hope he will be back on the track later this week.
It is unclear if Griffen will be available for the Bulldogs’ opening NAB Challenge match, against St Kilda at Simonds Stadium on Wednesday week.
Griffen’s setback follows last week’s elbow injury to defender Robert Murphy, who is expected to be out of action for at least eight weeks.
Veteran Matthew Boyd said the Bulldogs still expected to see Griffen on the field at some stage during the NAB Challenge.
“He has just had a bit of back tightness, nothing serious to worry about, but we are just downloading him for a week to see if he pulls up all right,’’ Boyd said.
“We’re sure he will be all right at some stage in the NAB Cup.
“It’s just precautionary. He is such an important player to us. We just want to give him every chance to recover.
“I think it’s just wait and see how he settles down. We are downloading a few players over the next week or so and he’s just one of those we are keeping an eye on.’’
Boyd, who handed over the captaincy to Griffen this summer, said his successor had settled into the job with ease.
“He has been terrific. He’s taken to it really well, very comfortable,’’ Boyd said.
“He is obviously a fantastic player, there is no doubt about that. But I think over the last two or three years he has really grown as a leader.
“I think you will see him slot into this role nicely.’’
While Griffen took a breather from training, Boyd said the players had been buoyed by the return of Shaun Higgins to the training track yesterday.
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2014/02/09/1226821/901784-020bb318-914c-11e3-9900-6ae4ae41740d.jpg
Shaun Higgins is looking as good as he has in a long time. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited


Higgins joined the main group for the first time since fracturing his left navicular bone against Richmond in Round 3 last season.
“He was here at 7am in his full kit ready to go. He was jumping out of his skin,’’ Boyd said.
“It has been a long delay for him to get back on the track.
“But we’re just really excited. All the boys got as lift seeing Shaun out there because he is such a great guy to have around the footy club.
“We know how talented he is and for him to be able to join in at this stage of the pre-season is fantastic for the morale of the place.’’

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/western-bulldogs-monitoring-ryan-griffen-after-skipper-suffers-back-tightness/story-fni5fazt-1226821901838

[bulldogtragic]

Nothing on Jarrad or Bob?

[Ghost Dog]

We are just downloading him...I'm sure a lot of clubs would love to download Ryan Griffen. Not to mention the ladies. Tish boom!

[bornadog]

Ryan Griffen (back tightness) and fellow key player Robert Murphy (elbow) are strong chances to be available for round one.
We are confident they will both be right when it starts," McCartney said.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ross-lyon-fremantle-must-lift-before-afl-opener-20140227-33j4e.html#ixzz2uUKB99Nq

[KT31]

Ryan Griffen (back tightness) and fellow key player Robert Murphy (elbow) are strong chances to be available for round one.
We are confident they will both be right when it starts," McCartney said.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ross-lyon-fremantle-must-lift-before-afl-opener-20140227-33j4e.html#ixzz2uUKB99Nq

Great news.

[bornadog]

Western Bulldogs Veteran Robert Murphy is eyeing a round one return to football, after Club medical staff have cleared him to begin contact training next week.

The defender has been restricted in his pre-season preparations in recent weeks after enduring an elbow injury during tackling drills in February.
“He returns to full contact training next week and we are confident he will be available for round one,” McKenzie said.

Captain Ryan Griffen is also still on track to be available for the season opener, however a no risk approach will be taken.
“We are taking a cautious approach with Ryan, he’s progressing well but we will see how he comes [up] heading into round one,” he said.
Diligently working through his rehabilitation program,

Jarrad Grant is making steady gains as he looks to return from a foot injury early in the season.
“He is on schedule, he’s doing his rehab training, he’s coming along nicely and he will have a review with the surgeon soon,” he said.

Jake Stringer, Tom Williams and Luke Dahlhaus pulled up sore after last week’s NAB Challenge clash against Fremantle and are being monitored accordingly.

source: h (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2014-03-07/murph-eyes-season-opener)ere

Nothing on Smith