Gun Western Bulldogs recruit Liam Jones’ AFL season is on the brink after the defender was dominated out for as much as 10 weeks following surgical procedure on a damaged arm.
Jones suffered a fractured radius within the opening phases of Sunday’s win over North Melbourne when he obtained an unintended kick from Kangaroo Paul Curtis whereas making an attempt to assemble a free ball.
The 32-year-old had been in stellar type and essential to the seventh-placed Bulldogs’ undermanned defence, along with his absence a serious blow to their finals hopes.
“Liam received a kick to his forearm – this trauma has caused two separate breaks in the radius bone,” Bulldogs’ sports activities drugs boss Chris Bell stated.
“He had surgery yesterday to insert a large plate along his forearm to stabilise both fractures.
“We will verify his return to play timeline over the approaching weeks, however anticipate him to overlook the following eight to 10 video games.”
Jones’ absence has been compounded by serious hamstring injuries to fellow backs Tim O’Brien and Hayden Crozier, who will miss up to nine and 10 games respectively.
Dashing flanker Jason Johannisen (hamstring) is still four or five weeks away, while fellow hamstrung defender Ed Richards won’t return for at least three weeks.
The seventh-placed Bulldogs have the bye then nine games ahead of finals, with Jones unlikely to return until late in the home-and-away season at best.
Jones was at Carlton when he retired in November 2021 because of the AFL’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.
He missed last season but came out of retirement to join the Bulldogs when the league’s policy was relaxed.
He has slotted into the Bulldogs’ defence seamlessly, pulling off shutdown roles while remaining a dangerous interceptor.
“It is time for All-Australian nominations for the time being … Liam is having an unimaginable yr. He is beginning to get the popularity he deserves,” coach Luke Beveridge said earlier this month.
“In the previous we’ve not had a dominant key again.
“To have a player making the impression on the game that Jonesy has been having has been really important for us. It was what we hoped for and more.”
Young gun Sam Darcy may return after the bye and face Fremantle on July 1.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
