Brad Smith (WCE) Injured

[Rustay]

WEST Coast full forward Brad Smith's AFL career may have ended before it began after he re-injured his reconstructed left knee at training today.

Signed to the Eagles at the start of 2005 from WAFL club Subiaco, Smith ruptured his anterior cruciate and medial ligaments in his left knee during an intra-club practice match in Busselton.


The 25-year-old missed the entire season and was only given the green light by doctors two days ago to resume full training before sustaining another injury today.

The extent of the second injury is not yet known, with the club saying he will be taken for scans.

Smith was seen as a possible long-term solution to West Coast's goal-kicking woes when he signed following an outstanding 2004 season in the WAFL.

He kicked 109 goals, including five in the grand final, as the Lions won the premiership.

The goal tally sealed his second straight Bernie Naylor Medal as the WAFL's leading goal kicker, having registered 84 majors in 2003.

But Smith has been cursed in his attempts to join West Coast and the AFL ranks.

He originally began training with the Eagles as an 18-year-old, but was struck down by hepatitis and glandular fever, forcing him out of football.

He returned via Subiaco, but his latest setback could force him to end his AFL dream.


It continues a poor return for the Eagles in their attempts to fill the full forward role.

Andrew McDougall, Quentin Lynch and Michael Gardiner have all failed to nail down the position over the past two seasons and Smith can now likely add his name to the list. Gardiner was held goal-less in last year's grand final loss to Sydney.

Bad luck for the lad. Did his knee all over again when it was looking as though he was going to be given the nod at full forward this year. Hope he still gets his chance sometime down the track.

Quentin Lynch - Full Forward :|

 

[CyberKev]

Bad luck for the lad. Did his knee all over again when it was looking as though he was going to be given the nod at full forward this year. Hope he still gets his chance sometime down the track.

Quentin Lynch - Full Forward :|

Tragic luck indeed for Smith.

Would have been a big show at nailing down the troublesome FF post for the Eagles.

Hopefully he'll receive brighter news when the medical results come back, and it won't be a full re-co job.

 

[CyberKev]

Bad news for young Bulldog, Tom Williams, also.

A recurrence of a nasty footy injury is likely to sideline him for the first half of the season, which is another big blow to the Hounds finals hopes, coming on the heels of Darcy's season ending injury.

I've got a feeling this could be a particularly bad season for injuries. I hope I'm way wide of the mark, but I've certainly got a strong gut feeling

 

[meltiger]

Hopefully we're getting them all out of the way early. Tragic news for both clubs, as I said on Big Footy this morning, Tom Williams is terrible news for the Dogs, I was hoping to see him debut, but 3 months at this time of year for an inexperienced kid is a huge blow for him.

Smith over at the Eagles is an interesting one too, he almost would have been a a certainty to come into the line-up this year, form permitting. With Matera gone as well ... The Eagles are still going to struggle to kick goals again this year.

 

[Rustay]

Smith over at the Eagles is an interesting one too, he almost would have been a a certainty to come into the line-up this year, form permitting. With Matera gone as well ... The Eagles are still going to struggle to kick goals again this year.

Yes, well here's hoping McDougall gets off his lazy, boney ass and does something this year. He has plenty of potential (hate that word!).

Lynch :arrow:
Staker :arrow: :arrow:

Juddy will spend more time forward, so here's hoping he can chip in a few more. Sampi, Gardiner and Hansen aren't gonna set the goalscoring charts alight, but hopefully they can just be consistant. Hunter will also play forward more often *Hooray, a contested mark I50!!!!*

 

[Goldthorpe]

Chad Fletcher busted his shoulder while surfing, expected to be out for 8 weeks.

 

[meltiger]

On a Richmond note, reports coming from training (As opposed to club propaganda) on various websites state most players are in full training, importantly this includes Coughlan and Johnson. If Mark and Kane are both fully fit this year the club will grow an extra leg.


A friend sent me some footage of Browny training about a month ago, and I am confident after watching that video that he will make R1.


Unfortunately, it seems Tambling's Hamstring is still a problem though.


Kev, how what reports are we hearing out of Glenferrie? Interestly, I haven't heard news of anything too serious?

 

[CyberKev]

Kev, how what reports are we hearing out of Glenferrie? Interestly, I haven't heard news of anything too serious?

I've also seen pictures of Nathan Brown who looks to be in fine fettle. I'd say he has made maximum use of the weight room for upper body development while his leg has been out of action. Should be back early in the season.

We'll lose a player for the season prior to round 1 for the season and at least another 1 in the early rounds, but I'm hopeful they won't be among the key 8.

Nothing much to report for now...

Campbell Brown has a minor shoulder fracture that is expected to be cleared just in time for his late start to 2006. I guess belting Lloyd was worth it after all :roll:

Josh Thurgood also has a shoulder injury that is not expected to be right until March. Any more injuries like this in 2006 and he may struggle to make the cut at year's end, which is a pity.

Beau Dowler is on the track and on target for an April/May debut with Box Hill.

Beau Muston is a good 6-7 weeks away from resuming running and will, as expected, almost certainly not play in 2006.

A pretty good scenario for any stage of the year inasmuch as Hawthorn is concerned.

 

[meltiger]

Josh Thurgood also has a shoulder injury that is not expected to be right until March. Any more injuries like this in 2006 and he may struggle to make the cut at year's end, which is a pity.

That would be a shame. That kid certainly has a lot of courage.

I'd hazard a guess in saying he hasn't put on any weight?

 

[CyberKev]

That would be a shame. That kid certainly has a lot of courage.

I'd hazard a guess in saying he hasn't put on any weight?

He probably put on a bit prior to January, but wouldn't have been able to weight train for the past 3 weeks.

He needed a full preseason with considerable weight gain this time around + across the folowing preseason.

At the current time he is behind Jacobs in the pecking order and could easily slip behind Murphy (who was looking good late last year and has , by all reports, had a strong preseason), should they use the latter as a peripheral defender in 2006.

Isn't strong enough to handle FB, is behind others for a peripheral forward role, and gets injured too often to nail down a peripheral defensive role.

It doesn't bode well, although I'd like to be wrong.