Influential midfielder Rory Sloane will miss 4-6 weeks with a fractured cheekbone.
Sloane sustained the injury in the third quarter of Adelaide’s clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night. The 2013 Crows Club Champion received an errant elbow to his face as he attempted to tackle an opponent, and was substituted out of the game.
Crows Head of Football David Noble said Sloane required minor surgery to repair the damage.
“Unfortunately, scans have confirmed a fracture of Rory’s cheekbone. He’ll be going into surgery in the next 24 hours to address that,” Noble said on Monday.
“It’s a fairly simple procedure to address the fracture … it’s been depressed and it’s just a little operation to press that bone back out.”
Sloane will join fellow onballers Richard Douglas (foot) and Brad Crouch (foot) on the sidelines.
There were no other new injuries reported in Adelaide’s AFL and SANFL matches over the weekend. The Crows won’t be able to call upon any players returning from injury to replace Sloane.
Young onballer Riley Knight, who is hoping to make his SANFL comeback from a long-term ankle injury, is the only player who could come off the Club’s injury list this week. Knight is yet to play a game this season after having surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his ankle in February.
Ricky Henderson (pectoral), Cam Ellis-Yolmen (hamstring) and James Podsiadly (back) will all be sidelined for at least another week, while forward Josh Jenkins (hip) is at least a fortnight away.
Midfielder Rory Atkins (knee) and defender Sam Shaw (hamstring) are closing in on comebacks from serious injuries, which have prevented them from playing at any level this season. Douglas and Brad Crouch are still a few weeks away from their respective foot injuries.
Last week, draftee Harry Dear was placed on the long-term injury list last week as he recovers from a shoulder reconstruction. Dear’s spot on the senior list has been taken by promoted rookie Reilly O’Brien. Veteran defender Brent Reilly (fractured) skull is also on the long-term injury list, with Jake Kelly replacing him in the primary squad.
Utility Andy Otten is nine months into his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction.
Injury list as of Monday, May 11
Riley Knight (ankle) – Test
Ricky Henderson (pectoral) – 1-2 weeks
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (hamstring) – 1-2 weeks
James Podsiadly (back) – 1-2 weeks
Rory Atkins – 1-2 weeks
Sam Shaw (hamstring) – 2-3 weeks
Josh Jenkins (hip) 2-3 weeks
Brad Crouch (foot) – 2-4 weeks
Richard Douglas (foot) – 3-5 weeks
Rory Sloane (cheekbone) – 4-6 weeks
Andy Otten (knee) – indefinite
Harry Dear (shoulder) – indefinite
Brent Reilly (fractured skull) – indefinite
