Flag-winning Demon to go under the knife, miss four to six weeks

Melbourne premiership defender Harrison Petty will have surgery on Wednesday to release bleeding from a cork in the calf muscle.

Petty suffered the corkie in training a week ago but the injury has not responded to rest and a decision was taken that he needed minor surgery to release bleeding in the region.

He is set to miss between four and six weeks, meaning he is unlikely to be available for the opening rounds of the AFL season.

Harrison Petty looks to burst past Hawk Jacob Koschitzke.Credit:Getty Images

Melbourne’s first game of their campaign, a grand final rematch against the Western Bulldogs, is also the AFL’s season-opener at the MCG on March 16, just four weeks away.

Petty is one of few injury concerns for the reigning premiers who are in good health and, despite a later start to pre-season training, have a high level of fitness and are ready for matches to commence.

While Petty got his chance for an extended run in the senior team once Adam Tomlinson suffered his injury, it is Tomlinson who is now fully fit again and ready to step in to reclaim his place given Petty’s injury.

The 22-year-old defender played 19 matches for the Demons last year after Tomlinson went down with a knee injury and needed a reconstruction.

Petty, who was taken with pick No.37 in the 2017 draft, signed a new contract at the end of last season tying him to the Demons until the end of 2025.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

Source: Read Full Article