Just tweeted by the MFC:

"Key defender Colin Garland is set to miss four to six weeks after undergoing surgery on his right ankle"

More here:

Garland suffers pre-season setback

pedders happy

rest of us sad

Thanks again Norm

My plan: Chop everybody's lower legs off right now and replace them with robot parts. Should save us some time and trouble.

426 strikes again

I suppose a positive is that it sounds a routine surgery and an injury that can be rehabbed pretty well. I wonder if it's related to the ankle he did late last year? Either way he hasn't been in main training so better to try and sort it now.

Dunn looks the biggest winner. That third tall spot is his now. Other defenders have to step up. Might be an opportunity for Georgiou to show what he can do in the nab challenge

Injuries are starting to mount. No good.

I'm most concerned about Clark. Things seemed to go well for a while, and now it looks like he's had another set back which the club doesn't seem keen to openly discuss.

426 strikes again

"More than a month" would have been preferable.

I went to training around late November / early December and noticed that Garland was trailing off last in all of the 200-300m runs that day. He looked terrible.

I guess this might explain why.

Putting on my "glass half full" hat on, 6 weeks takes him to March 7th, the weekend of the Hawthorn game.

Maybe a hit-out in the VFL on Mar 15 and then right for round 1?

Edited January 24, 201411 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

Injuries are starting to mount. No good.I'm most concerned about Clark. Things seemed to go well for a while, and now it looks like he's had another set back which the club doesn't seem keen to openly discuss.

I'm with you on that.

With some luck he will be OK for the first round

My plan: Chop everybody's lower legs off right now and replace them with robot parts. Should save us some time and trouble.

Lets not shoot from the hip to early... You never know who might be in the bathroom.

hopefully he'll be orright, was great last year in a particularly poor side.

My plan: Chop everybody's lower legs off right now and replace them with robot parts. Should save us some time and trouble.

Has anyone called for the sacking of the coach and fitness staff yet?

Injuries are starting to mount. No good.

I'm most concerned about Clark. Things seemed to go well for a while, and now it looks like he's had another set back which the club doesn't seem keen to openly discuss.

happens at every club[afl and local]

and it creates excitement on the list

average players hoping to get a game all of a sudden think they might be in with a chance

thats when training gets better,lets show the new coach etc etc

whatever you do

DONT PANIC

With some luck he will be OK for the first round

Let's be more optimistic: With some luck he will be OK for the finals

(I know, I'm dreaming)

happens at every club[afl and local]

and it creates excitement on the list

average players hoping to get a game all of a sudden think they might be in with a chance

thats when training gets better,lets show the new coach etc etc

whatever you do

DONT PANIC

Very positive way of looking at things jazza and I sort of agree.

Though the other side of the coin is that players can start to think a spot in the side will be gifted to them, instead of earning it.

Has anyone called for the sacking of the coach and fitness staff yet?

too much calcium & sodium supplements no doubt?

I thought Garland was our best player last year even ahead of Jones. Four weeks isn't disastrous but a little worrying.

happens at every club[afl and local]

and it creates excitement on the list

average players hoping to get a game all of a sudden think they might be in with a chance

thats when training gets better,lets show the new coach etc etc

whatever you do

DONT PANIC

Don't worry Jazza, I am not.

We have reserves!

Send in the next minion.

Thanks again Norm

Actually thank Don Duffy - he and his committee / board invoked Norm's curse.

426 strikes again

Nick Smith says "hi"

Oscar may well outrun some of our blokes, but kicking could be a bit of a matter of hit and miss

Injuries are starting to mount. No good.

I'm most concerned about Clark. Things seemed to go well for a while, and now it looks like he's had another set back which the club doesn't seem keen to openly discuss.

One of my "good sources" spoke to Mick Conlan at the Brighton Baths over Christmas. They both do those early morning swim sessions. Mick's words were basically this "Brisbane were not too worried to lose Clark as his body has always been close to injury. Said Mitch was a great guy but did not expect a long career from him. Has had the hammy problem for a fair while.

The other comment he said was that he rated Chris Dawes as a bargain and that his best footy should be ahead of him.

For those not old enough to remember Mick Conlan, he was a gun midfielder for Fitzroy in the 80's & early 90's and he was built like a Kelvinator Refrigerator.

I thought Garland was our best player last year even ahead of Jones. Four weeks isn't disastrous but a little worrying.

Only a very little bit surely. It sounds like the sort of operation that is not likely to go wrong or have longer term issues with pins being removed etc.