Boom Springbank recruit Chris Graham is likely to spend a month away from competitive football after suffering concussion during Saturday’s clash with Ballan.
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The incident which left Graham groggy and forced to spend time in hospital is believed to have been off-the-ball.
Springbank coach Troy Beamond said Graham, who signed with the Tigers from Darley during the off-season, was likely to miss the next two games before the club has two weekends off due to the bye and league-wide break for the AFL Victoria Community Championships.
“We expect he will be out for an extended period. Chris has no recollection of anything from the game which is of great concern,” Beamond told The Courier.
“We are extremely relieved that scans have shown no structural damage or bleeding.”
Graham was captain under Beamond during their successful time at Wyndhamvale, which resulted in a Western Region Football League division two flag in 2015.
He landed at Darley last season to help the Devils to the premiership and also represented the Ballarat league in the AFL Victoria Community Championships.
Graham booted two goals in the Tigers’ nine-point win over Ballan on Saturday at Wallace.
That result continued an unbeaten start to the Central Highlands league season for Springbank, which is booked to take on Clunes next weekend. After that, the Tigers have a battle with Dunnstown.
For the Blues, the defeat leaves the side winless in 2018.
Coach Jason McNamara and his boys pushed Gordon in round one before a disappointing display against Buninyong in their next clash.
The Blues are now focusing on a battle with Dunnstown next weekend.
Meanwhile, Ballarat Swans player Jackson Ford also faces the possibility of missing games after collapsing during Saturday night’s Ballarat league senior game against East Point at Alfredton.
Ford spent a night in hospital before he was released on Sunday.
Play was delayed for 20 minutes after Ford collapsed near the centre of the ground 15 minutes into the first quarter.
Ford is believed to have been knocked unconscious after laying a tackle.
Players from each team initially formed huddles on the ground. However, the two sides left the ground and moved into the clubrooms after umpires consulted with coaches Jake Bridges (East Point) and Shane Hutchinson (Ballarat).
East Point led 4.1 (25) to 0.1 (1) at the time and went onto win 18.10 (118) to 3.9 (27).
The Kangaroos are scheduled to take on Sebastopol at the Eastern Oval this coming Saturday, while Ballarat has a game against Lake Wendouree at C E Brown Reserve, starting from 6.15pm.