The Gold Coast SUNS will be without playmaker Harley Bennell for the final round of the season against Sydney on Saturday night, whilst key defender Steven May and utility Danny Stanley are in doubt for the trip south.
Bennell tweaked his calf in the warm-up last Saturday night and the club tried to make a late switch of substitutes, but the paperwork had already been lodged, preventing the SUNS from swapping Bennell with Stanley who started in the substitutes vest.
Despite being able to run the game out, Bennell was clearly hampered by the ailment on the night and scans have since shown that the West Australia suffered a grade two calf tear. An injury GC SUNS head physiotherapist, Adam Russell, says takes between four to six weeks to recover from.
“He unfortunately had some calf tightness in the warm up and was able to complete the game but when we reviewed him on Monday, he had an MRI scan that has shown a grade two tear to his soleus muscle,” Russell told SUNS TV on Tuesday afternoon.
“These injuries are generally a four to six week turnaround, so we will be working with him in the off-season to get that right.”
May is in doubt for the clash against the Swans after the star defender pulled up from the game against the Power with hamstring tightness.
The Swans boast one of the premier forward setups in the game with Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett and Sam Reid inside 50, Gold Coast will be hopeful May can take his place to try and stop one of Sydney’s stars.
“Steven May had some hamstring tightness coming out of the game. He’s been monitored this week and we’ll continue to monitor him to see how he goes for the main training session on Thursday,” Russell said.
Stanley’s frustrating 2015 campaign continued on the weekend with the big-bodied utility suffering another injury setback and only shortly after entering the game in the third quarter.
“Danny Stanley unfortunately has tweaked his groin. He did that in a tackle in the middle of the ground just after coming on as the sub,” Russell said.
“He’s going to be continued to be assessed, a bit like Steven May this week. We’ll have a look at him on Thursday to see if he’s available to play on the weekend.”
Optomo Injury Report: Round 23
Gold Coast will be without playmaker Harley Bennell for the final round of the season against Sydney, whilst key defender Steven May and utility Danny Stanley are in doubt for the trip south.
