RUCKMAN Orren Stephenson’s calf injury creates a big blow to North Ballarat Roosters’ bid to turn their season around.
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Stephenson will have scans on Thursday to determine the extent of a muscle tear he sustained while playing for the Roosters on Saturday in the Victorian Football League.
He will not play in this week’s bout with Geelong – the club that recruited him to AFL ranks and the club with which he won his fourth VFL premiership.
It is highly unlikely the 32-year-old will be back in action before the Roosters have a bye in a fortnight.
Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald said Stephenson’s challenge now would be to get over the injury in time to play against Richmond – his AFL club for the past two seasons. The Roosters host the Tigers on July 5.
FitzGerald said it was a disappointing result for Stephenson, who had been looking forward to playing against the Cats at Simonds Stadium.
Stephenson initially sustained the calf injury as a corked muscle from a heavy blow in the dying minutes of a thumping from Footscray almost three weeks ago.
The Roosters were careful to sideline their veteran for a week before he passed extensive fitness testing to first train and then line up against Sandringham at the weekend.
He started the game strongly but was benched from the second quarter when the injury flared up.
The Roosters staged a spirited fight-back in the game and will look to take that confidence into the Geelong road trip.
They have two wins on the board and are in a battle to stay in touch with the top eight – as are the Cats.
The Roosters will consider promoting young, emerging ruckman Rowan Marshall from Sebastopol in a 23rd man role to replace Stephenson – a role Marshall played a week ago.
Lake Wendouree big man Jackson Bowen is also a ruck option. Bowen has been promising in the tap for the Lakers and in a strong marking role up forward.
The Roosters must also monitor midfielders Coleman Schache (knee soreness) and premiership player Nick Peters (corked lower leg) ahead of selection this week,
This week’s game will be the Roosters’ first televised game under new VFL broadcaster Channel 7.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
