Scans have confirmed Rory Sloane has a fractured left cheekbone.
Sloane, 25, was subbed out in the third quarter of Adelaide’s clash with Brisbane following a clash with Lions onballer Mitch Robinson. It’s the same cheekbone the 2013 Club Champion injured against Gold Coast in Round Six, causing him to miss a month.
Crows Head of Football David Noble said Sloane would consult a surgeon to determine how long this latest injury will keep him sidelined.
“We’ll get Rory into a specialist to decide the best course of action … in the next few days,” Noble said.
“We expect him to miss some weeks, but we’re not quite sure (how many) until we get him in to see the specialist.”
Young midfielder Brad Crouch, who experienced foot soreness in the SANFL on Sunday, is also undergoing assessment.
Crouch, who fractured his foot in the final round of the NAB Challenge in March, is yet to play an AFL game this season. The 2013 Rising Star runner-up made a successful comeback in the SANFL prior to the bye, but was sidelined last weekend with pain in the same foot.
Scans cleared Crouch of any structural damage and he was cleared to play at Alberton Oval on Sunday. However, the 21-year-old was forced from the field early in the match with soreness in his foot and took no further part.
“Brad’s got some soreness in that same foot and he’ll be assessed in the next 24 hours. Until we get him assessed completely – it’s only been 24 hours (since the injury) – we won’t know anything further.”
Draftee Mitch McGovern will miss 2-4 weeks with a knee complaint.
McGovern kicked three goals in his most recent SANFL outing against Woodville-West Torrens, but experienced soreness in his knee and sat out the win over the Port Magpies on Sunday. It’s an unlucky blow for the athletic forward, who was plagued by an Achilles complaint in the first half of the season.
Sam Kerridge is only a week or two away from a return from an ankle sprain. Kerridge injured his ankle in his only AFL games this season, against Greater Western Sydney in Round Eight. Mitch Grigg, who rolled his ankle while running over the mid-season break, is out of his moon boot but will miss about another month as he builds back to full fitness.
Young defender Jake Lever made a successful return from an ankle sprain in the SANFL on the weekend, while Andy Otten is another week closer to his long-awaited comeback from a second knee reconstruction.
Injury list as of Monday, June 29
Rory Sloane (cheekbone) – TBA
Brad Crouch (foot) – TBA
Sam Kerridge (ankle) – 1-2 weeks
Andy Otten (knee) – 2-3 weeks
Mitch McGovern (knee) – 2-4 weeks
Mitch Grigg (ankle) – 4-6 weeks
Harry Dear (shoulder) – TBA
Matthew Jaensch (knee) – season
Brent Reilly (fractured skull) – retired
