North Ballarat Roosters prime mover Nick Rippon’s season looks to be over.
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Roosters coach Marc Greig said Rippon had confirmed that knee trouble would sideline him for four to six weeks.
Greig said any injury of that nature would mean season over for the 2015 J.J. Liston Trophy winner, with just five home and away rounds remaining.
He said Rippon had suffered some ligament damage – fortunately not long-term.
Rippon’s loss is a setback after he picked up a game-high 35 disposals in North Ballarat’s first win of VFL season against Northern Blues.
North Ballarat fronts up against Richmond at Mars Stadium on Sunday.
The Tigers smashed the Roosters by 188 points in the opening round, 33.21 (219) to 4.7 (31).
Great Western Victoria Rebels ruckman Lloyd Meek returns to the TAC Cup.
Greig has confirmed that Jacob Wheelahan is returning after having a tight hamstring along with Tony Lockyer (knee) and Hayden Walter (suspension).
Josh Webster (hand) and Brenton Payne (quadricep) are fit again and cleared to play in the Ballarat Football League with Redan and Bacchus Marsh respectively.
Payne is originally from Bacchus Marsh, where he played his junior football before graduating to the Western Jets in the TAC Cup and then to the St Kilda rookie list.
Payne has still been named on an extended interchange with other inclusions Xavier Vearing, Ben Simpson and Billy Jones.
ROOSTERS LINE-UP (11am start)
B: T. Taurau, L. Buckwell, K. Mellington
HB: S. Lyle, O. Tate, 11. M. Austin
C: T. Lockyer, B. Lusby, L. Cassidy
HF: M. Rodd, A. Hooper, N. Hausler
F: B. Edwards, J. Wheelahan, J. McQueen
R: L. George, L. Kiel, H. Walters
Int: B. Simpson, C. Perry, X. Vearing, J. Keeble, T. Speirs, N. Weightman, B. Jones, B. Payne
23rd man: L. Huppatz
In: X. Vearing, B. Payne, H. Walters, B. Jones, B. Simpson , J. Wheelahan, T. Lockyer
Out: J. Cooke-Harrison, L. Meek, N. Rippon
Meanwhile, the AFL Victoria board has ratified the recommendation to end the eight-team development league from next season, with a focus on the longer-term future of the VFL competition.
North Ballarat Roosters have cut their development league team in 2014, releasing their overflow of players to line up with nominated home clubs.
AFL Victoria chief executive officer Steven Reaper said pressures on clubs had been mounting over a number of years, both financially and from an administration perspective, relating to the development league.
