NORTH Ballarat is counting the cost of a hard-fought victory over Coburg in the Victorian Football League on Saturday.
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The Selkirk Roosters limped away from Coburg with two more of their most experienced players facing an extended time out of the team.
Tony Lockyer finished the day on crutches after injuring an ankle early in the second quarter, while marquee recruit Louis Herbert strained a hamstring.
They join AFL-experienced duo Orren Stephenson (hamstring) and Andrew Hooper (ankle), who miss the Coburg game, on the injury list.
Stephenson is not expected to be back for at least another few weeks, while Hooper is doubtful for Friday night’s encounter with Essendon in Bendigo.
Roosters coach Marc Greig said the full extent of Lockyer’s injury was not yet known.
“It’s not a standard ankle injury. We expect to know more on Monday,” he said.
It’s not a standard ankle injury. We expect to know more on Monday,”
- Coach Marc Greig
Herbert went down not long after half-time.
Greig estimates the former Gold Coast Suns player will be out for three to four weeks.
Greig said while Herbert had a hamstring problem in the pre-season, the former North Ballarat Rebel had told him he had no issues going into the round one match.
He said Herbert had no history of hamstring injuries and was perplexed by the setback.
Jon Lanyon spent an extended period off the ground getting attention after a heavy knock late in the third term, but was able to play out the game.
The loss of Lockyer and Herbert will further stretch the young Roosters’ player stocks.
Past North Ballarat chairman Peter Wilson joined club doyens Stan “Digger” Roberts and Alan Plummer presented jumpers to players making their debuts as fully fledged Roosters.
These included Josh Webster, Tom Templeton, Matt Johnston, Ben Simpson, Joel Cowan, Bailey Edwards, Tom Schnerring, Louis Herbert, Sam Hooper and Lachie Cassidy.
Others on injury list: Jackson Carrick (compartment syndrome 1-2 weeks), Glen Coleman (shoulder 1-2 weeks), Ben Lusby (ankle 1 week), Orren Stephenson (hamstring 2-3 weeks), Xavier Vearing (ankle 6 weeks).