So Craig Cameron is our football manager

February 5, 200818 yr

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/com...5E20322,00.html

MELBOURNE has suffered its first major injury blow of the season with leading onballer Cameron Bruce ruled out for at least a month with a knee complaint.

Bruce strained his medial ligament in a contested training drill on Friday and was on crutches yesterday as the Demons flew to their Canberra Community Camp.

While the Demons put a positive spin on Bruce's injury and said he would be fit for Round 1, it is terrible timing.

With the loss of Travis Johnstone to the Brisbane Lions, the 28-year-old is expected to lead the onball brigade under new coach Dean Bailey.

The club said yesterday it was hopeful Bruce would play several practice games in preparation for the Demons' Round 1 clash against Hawthorn on March 23.

Having last week named in the club's new-look leadership group, Bruce missed six games through hamstring injuries last year but had completed an excellent pre-season.

Now he has been sidelined only days before the club's first intra-club clash, and its NAB Cup opener against premier Geelong on February 16.

The Demons postponed a scheduled hitout last Friday with several players sore but are expected to complete their first intraclub match this Friday at Canberra's Ainslie Oval.

Melbourne football manager Craig Cameron said the club was thankful Bruce had enough time to recuperate to be fit for the first round. "It will be a few weeks. We are just getting the weight off the knee at the moment, and we will have a conservative approach leading into the pre-season games, but we expect him to play a few practice matches and be ready for Round 1," Cameron said.

"I think it was a tackling drill, just physical contact. They are doing contested ball work and this transition from fitness training into game play, that's when a lot of different injuries bob up."

Like most clubs, the Demons had escaped without incident in the pre-season, with only a handful of players having being managed through the summer.

Ruck recruit John Meeson has starred on the track, while Adem Yze, Clint Bartram and Brent Moloney are on target after struggling with injury last season.

Top-five draft pick Cale Morton has impressed in his first pre-season and is expected to get a chance early in the NAB Cup.

The club yesterday began its five-day camp in Canberra which will include training camps, school visits, a superclinic, and a visit to the War Memorial.

Two Chinese junior footballers joined them in Canberra yesterday as part of a professional development scholarship.

Zhao Wei and Zhao Yonggen will co-captain the Chinese national side during the AFL International Cup later this year, with China competing for the first time.

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