Wodonga has suffered a double-barrelled blow with forward Rick Whitehead slicing his arm open at work, while Reed Jackson has damaged his anterior cruciate ligament.
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Whitehead suffered the injury working with a nine inch grinder.
“I’ve cut tendons in it, a couple of tendons,” he said.
“There’s internal and external stitches because it went right back near the bone.”
Whitehead’s return date will depend on how the cut heals, although he’s certainly expected to play again this season.
The news isn’t as positive for Jackson, who was stretchered off against Lavington.
“We were hoping for meniscus and early signs were that, but we got the scans back and he’s done his ACL,” coach Dean Harding said.
“It’s really disappointing, he’s become a really important player.”
The injury news has taken some gloss away from what should be a crackerjack derby at home against Wodonga Raiders on Saturday.
The youthful Raiders ran Wodonga ragged on a wet ANZAC Day, but Harding says his bigger outfit won’t be out to bully the visitors.
“No, not really, I don’t think it’s bullying, it’s just contested footy,” he said.
“We need to make sure we get out of stoppages what we want and make sure they don’t get their hands on it, they don’t get outside of us.”
Wodonga has had a reputation, for a number of years, as a gritty side, but Raiders’ coach Daryn Cresswell says that’s selling the club short.
“I don’t think that’s them in a nutshell, I think they’re playing some pretty good footy with the ball,” he said.
“They’ve had a really convincing win over Lavington and they’ve got some class in (Brett) Doswell, (Jarrod) Hodgkin and (Steve) Murray.”
Collingwood VFL recruit Ryan Pendlebury was almost untouchable in defence against Lavington.
“There’s no question we’ll have someone designated to go to him,” Cresswell said.
Wodonga’s Oliver Greenhill will debut, the son of former Bulldog star David, while co-captain Jack Russell will play his 100th game.