Source : the age
The Western Bulldogs’ injury crisis has claimed another star player with key forward Aaron Naughton stretchered off the ground after a sickening fall in the club’s defeat to Sydney on Thursday night.
The Swans’ star recruit Charlie Curnow feasted on the Dogs’ undermanned defence to boot seven goals on another dirty night for Luke Beveridge’s decimated team, who were no match after half-time to lose by 66 points – 18.18 (126) to 9.6 (60).
On top of the ladder just over a fortnight ago, the Dogs are a shadow of the side that was the last team to taste defeat this season and have now lost their past three games by a combined total of 181 points.
This loss, on the night they celebrated the 10-year reunion of their fairytale 2016 flag, was compounded by a terrifying incident involving Naughton.
Naughton landed on his head after flipping midair, attempting a high mark on Jai Serong deep in the Bulldogs’ forward line.
The Dog have cleared Naughton of serious injury, but he is in extreme doubt for the Dogs’ clash with leading premiership fancy Fremantle on Friday week.
“Initial examination makes us optimistic that Aaron has avoided any serious injuries,” the Bulldogs said in a statement released in the final quarter.
“He will be reassessed over the coming days.”
The injury is another devastating blow to the Dogs, who last week lost the other half of their star forward pairing Sam Darcy to a season-ending knee injury. Ruckman Tim English and key defenders James O’Donnell and Rory Lobb are also on a lengthy injury list.
The Dogs finished the game with young pups Louis Emmett and Will Lewis deep in attack.
The absences of O’Donnell and Lobb were keenly felt. Curnow and Joel Amartey combined for Sydney’s first eight goals and finished with 10 of their side’s 18.
That’s all we have for you tonight.
We will be back with another AFL live blog tomorrow evening.
Please join us then and bye for now.
An excellent suggestion has come through from Leigh Matthews tonight (via 3AW). One of the game’s GOATs has suggested the stadium MC should be given information to update the fans when a player who has a scary injury is confirmed as OK by the club.
It would take some work behind the scenes, but would improve the in-stadium experience as not everyone is glued to social media while at a live game.
Crows superstar Jordan Dawson was back training with the AFL side today after taking leave following the unexpected death of his brother Jaryd.
The Crows revealed that Dawson had even had a training run with SA country team Robe while mourning Jaryd’s death with his family.
Time will tell if he returns to the side to face the Brisbane Lions on Sunday afternoon.
Support is available from Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 and MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has called on his young players to back themselves in and believe they are good enough to play as the team deals with their growing injury toll.
“We are here to support you and here to look for the next best version of ourselves,” Beveridge said.
“Whether that is next week or in six weeks’ time, but we’ve just got to deal with the injury toll. We have to encourage and make the boys believe that they are good enough to be in a winning Western Bulldogs team.
“It hasn’t been that in the last few weeks but, who knows, it could come next week.”
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says Aaron Naughton will be scanned on Friday to see the extent of his neck injury, but he appears to have avoided a serious issue.
“He’s going to go home now and he’ll have his neck looked at tomorrow [Friday],” Beveridge said post game.
“He appears to have strained that side of his neck from the incident. The bright side is that there are no signs of concussion, but we will have to report back once we get something more definitive.”
Naughton’s injury is the latest of several to key Bulldogs players.
“It’s been an interesting few weeks for that,” Beveridge said.
Fox Footy has reported that Aaron Naughton is up and about in the Bulldogs rooms and is expected to go home tonight.
He doesn’t have a concussion, but will have precautionary scans on Friday to make sure he doesn’t have any injuries from his horror fall during a third-term marking contest.
Naughton may still miss next week’s game, but that remains to be seen.
Swans defender Tom McCartin has shrugged off calls that he could be an All-Australian defender at this stage of the season.
McCartin was again among the Swans’ best players in tonight’s win over the Bulldogs and he credited a more attacking role from Swans defensive coach Simon Goodwin as helping him do more for the side.
“It’s a bit early for All-Australian – I’m just playing my role,” McCartin told Fox Footy.
When asked about Aaron Naughton’s horrible fall, McCartin said he hoped the Dogs forward was OK.
The Western Bulldogs’ injury crisis has claimed another star player with key forward Aaron Naughton stretchered off the ground after a sickening fall in the club’s defeat to Sydney on Thursday night.
The Swans’ star recruit Charlie Curnow feasted on the Dogs’ undermanned defence to boot seven goals on another dirty night for Luke Beveridge’s decimated team, who were no match after half-time to lose by 66 points – 18.18 (126) to 9.6 (60).
On top of the ladder just over a fortnight ago, the Dogs are a shadow of the side that was the last team to taste defeat this season and have now lost their past three games by a combined total of 181 points.
Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy has praised the professionalism of Charlie Curnow after he kicked seven goals tonight.
“He’s time will continue to come. It came tonight and he just keeps showing up,” Grundy told Fox Footy.
“He’s such a professional and we love what he brings. The scoreboard is one thing but the way he has shown up and his character, he’s made us a better football team.”
Grundy, who is due to play his 250th game next game, said his side did well to fight off the Dogs after they made a strong start.
“It was really hot early, but I was really pleased with our boys to wrestle back the momentum and kick a nice score in the end,” Grundy told Fox Footy.
