THE Blues could be boosted by the return of a number of players following the bye round, at both AFL and VFL levels.
Key forward Levi Casboult is set to headline the returning group, with the Club taking a conservative approach managing his fractured rib over recent weeks.
“We didn’t feel we should risk his rib (against Sydney),” Head of Football Andrew McKay said.
“We’ll give it (rib) a bit of extra time, but he’ll be right after the bye.”
Exciting midfielder Matthew Kennedy and young forward Jarrod Pickett are also in line to make their returns to the field within the next fortnight, with the pair tracking well in their recoveries from ankle and scaphoid injuries respectively.
“Matt Kennedy’s had bone bruising on his ankle. We’re hoping he’ll be a test after the bye,” McKay said.
“Jarrod Pickett’s nearly back after having that pin inserted in his scaphoid bone a number of weeks ago. He’s been training really well the last couple of weeks and will be a test after the bye.”
While the senior and Northern Blues sides have bye rounds scheduled this weekend, youngsters Cillian McDaid and Kym Lebois could be eyeing off a return through the VFL system within the next week.
“Kym has been training really well. He’ll be a test after the bye, but we’re confident he’ll play in the VFL,” McKay said.
“Cillian McDaid’s been out for quite some time with that foot. He’ll be a test after the bye but we’re quite confident he’ll be able to play VFL after the bye.”
Following the bye, veteran defender Alex Silvagni is set to line up in the navy blue for the first time this season, after overcoming a lingering Achilles issue.
“He’ll (Silvagni) be back after the bye, which will be fantastic to see,” McKay said.
Meanwhile, Caleb Marchbank will continue to be monitored over the next fortnight as he manages bone bruising and will be hoping to make a return to the field following the bye.
“Caleb Marchbank’s been managing bone bruising on his ankle. He’ll be a couple of weeks after the bye but we’re looking forward to seeing him back," McKay said.
Defenders Ciaran Byrne and Harrison Macreadie remain a couple of weeks away, as the pair continue in their recoveries from quad and hamstring issues respectively.
“Ciaran Bryne has still got that quad strain. He’ll be a couple of weeks away after the bye,” McKay said.
“Harrison Macreadie had that low-grade hamstring strain in the VFL a couple of weeks ago. We’ve got a bye in the VFL this weekend, so he should be back two weeks after that.”
Captain Marc Murphy remains on track in his return from a plantar fascia injury, with McKay suggesting the 30-year-old would return to the field within the next two to three weeks following the bye round.
Having only last week been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a niggling back injury, young defender Tom Williamson will freshen up away from the Club over the bye week before returning to Ikon Park to commence his rehabilitation program.
“Tom will go away for a week or two to clear his head. He’ll come back to training and train really well before the end of the season, which will give him a great lead-up to pre-season,” McKay said.
There will be no scheduled Blues games this weekend, with the AFL, VFL and VFLW programs all aligned in their bye round.
INJURY LIST - 5 JUNE:
Levi Casboult – Rib – Test
Alex Silvagni – Achilles – Test
Cillian McDaid – Foot – Test
Caleb Marchbank – Ankle – 1-2 weeks
Matthew Kennedy – Ankle – 1 week
Kym Lebois – Collarbone – 1 week
Jarrod Pickett – Scaphoid – 1 week
Ciaran Byrne – Quad – 2 weeks
Harrison Macreadie – Hamstring – 2 weeks
Marc Murphy – Plantar Fascia - 2–3 weeks
Tom Williamson – Back – Season
Sam Docherty – Knee – Season
