TIGERS CLUB NEWS ARCHIVE

TIGERS NEWS - 10 AUGUST 2005

Injury Crisis ¿ What a Season!

Looking down the list of players there are few that havenÍt suffered some type of major injury during the year.

Over the summer the Club decided not to recruit players (with one exception), preferring to utilise the excellent group of prospective young players that had participated and represented the Tigers in the Under 18, Reserve Grade and 1st Grade Grand Finals of 2004.

Even though a number of players had departed the scene over the summer ¿ in particular quality players like Ryan Quade to the Sydney Swans, Kris Thompson to Werribee Tigers in the VFL, Tony Wolski ¿ returning to Queensland, Lew Roberts to Noble Park,
Anthony Roy, Michael Wescombe, Jamie Andriske and the tragic loss of Michael Haddock in a car accident the Club still felt that it had quality players in its ranks to fill the gaps from the above mentioned departures.

Unfortunately what was to occur before and during the season could not prepare the Club for an incredible run of major and long term injuries. The list is as follows:

  1. David Lepavoux ¿ season ending with Osteopubis

  2. Jordan Longmore ¿ broken bone in foot ¿ 12 weeks

  3. Jason Thomas ¿ early season nose operation a result of 2004 Grand Final

  4. Brett Ormston ¿ early season shoulder operation a result of 2004 Under 18 Grand Final

  5. Michael Niesen ¿ off season knee operation

  6. Luke Ellis ¿ early season knee operation ¿ reoccurring problems mid season ¿ season ending

  7. Scott Dickinson ¿ compartment syndrome ¿ both legs ¿ operation 12 weeks then further complications ¿ season ending at round 15

  8. Matt Liddle ¿ broken tibia round 12 ¿ season ending

Brett Daniher ¿ returning from shoulder reconstruction round 4 only to injure ankle ligaments - 7 weeks
Jack Charlton ¿ broken ankle round 4 ¿ season ending
Neil Irwin ¿ broken thumb round 4 ¿ sidelined for 7 weeks
Steve MacPherson ¿ broken ankle round 3 ¿ season ending
Adam Heading ¿ shoulder dislocation ¿ 5 weeks
Tom Hollis ¿ shoulder dislocation ¿ season ending requires surgery
Kayne Bull ¿ broken ankle ¿ 10 weeks
Todd Dickinson ¿ osteopubis ¿ season ending
Jason Satchell ¿ broken bone in hand
Jon Elias ¿ blood infection ¿ 5 weeks

The Club eventually felt the impact of all the above injury concerns when after being well placed for a finals berth in all grades mid season, four consecutive losses to the 1st Grade team and three consecutive losses to the Reserves has placed both teams in precarious positions. Although the Reserves should maintain their current position of 4th the 1st Grade are in real danger of missing the finals for the first time in 24 seasons.

Upsets aside, the final position will come down to percentages between the Tigers and Eastlake.

Unfortunately, after leading the Club Championship Award handsomely mid season it has lost that lead to Ainslie and is now in danger of further slipping down the ladder in this prestigious title.

No one could predict the unfortunate run of injuries mentioned above. This in addition to top class ruckman James Geale suffering a stroke before last years finals series completing upsetting team selections for the respective Grand Finals.

What ever the Club has done to receive such a horrendous and unfortunate list of losses since the end of last season lets hope it finishes very soon so it can regain the prominence it has held in the AFL Canberra competition for many years.

Tigers Club News Archive