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By TIM MORRISSEY
September 2, 2003
THE Sydney Swans will have to make the AFL grand final if they want to see Michael "Magic" O'Loughlin back in action again this year.
However, the bad news doesn't stop there with Swans veteran midfielder Daryn Cresswell expected to miss Sunday's qualifying final against Port Adelaide.
An MRI scan yesterday revealed O'Loughlin tore his hamstring against Melbourne on Saturday and Cresswell is suffering a groin strain ? the double setback throwing the Swans' finals campaign into chaos.
Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs told The Daily Telegraph the damage to O'Loughlin's right hamstring muscle extends for 17cm and that it would take the flashy forward 3-4 weeks to recover.
"Mick's got a grade one tear but he's got a good one . . . it's reasonably big," said Gibbs.
"In terms of healing time it normally takes around three to four weeks' recovery.
"But for Mick, to get up in two weeks would be monumental, it's that sort of tear. We are not just dealing with a little twinge here."
Cresswell's situation is not as serious, but if he plays in Adelaide and injures it further the star on-baller could be out of the rest of the finals.
With the Swans receiving a double chance in the first round of the finals for finishing fourth, Gibbs believes Cresswell would benefit from the week off.
"We scanned it and it showed a bit of minor straining to the groin muscle, but it's not in the same category as Mick," he said.
"The thing about Cressa is he could probably play this weekend, but we want to get him 100 per cent if we can."
A decision on Cresswell won't be finalised until Friday but both he and O'Loughlin received cortisone injections yesterday to try to accelerate the healing process.
Experienced forward Matthew Nicks will come into the team for O'Loughlin but it's hard to see Sydney being able to cover the loss of two key positional players.
O'Loughlin and Cresswell have 421 games experience between them and both played in the 1996 grand final.
O'Loughlin is the Swans' second highest goalkicker this season with 41 while Cresswell has been back to his best this season.
He has kicked 18 goals.
If the Swans lose to Port they will host the winner of the Fremantle v Essendon elimination final. If Sydney upset Port they get the second week of the finals off.
"It's disappointing not to be playing but it's an exciting time for the club, especially for the young players," O'Loughlin said.
September 2, 2003
THE Sydney Swans will have to make the AFL grand final if they want to see Michael "Magic" O'Loughlin back in action again this year.
However, the bad news doesn't stop there with Swans veteran midfielder Daryn Cresswell expected to miss Sunday's qualifying final against Port Adelaide.
An MRI scan yesterday revealed O'Loughlin tore his hamstring against Melbourne on Saturday and Cresswell is suffering a groin strain ? the double setback throwing the Swans' finals campaign into chaos.
Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs told The Daily Telegraph the damage to O'Loughlin's right hamstring muscle extends for 17cm and that it would take the flashy forward 3-4 weeks to recover.
"Mick's got a grade one tear but he's got a good one . . . it's reasonably big," said Gibbs.
"In terms of healing time it normally takes around three to four weeks' recovery.
"But for Mick, to get up in two weeks would be monumental, it's that sort of tear. We are not just dealing with a little twinge here."
Cresswell's situation is not as serious, but if he plays in Adelaide and injures it further the star on-baller could be out of the rest of the finals.
With the Swans receiving a double chance in the first round of the finals for finishing fourth, Gibbs believes Cresswell would benefit from the week off.
"We scanned it and it showed a bit of minor straining to the groin muscle, but it's not in the same category as Mick," he said.
"The thing about Cressa is he could probably play this weekend, but we want to get him 100 per cent if we can."
A decision on Cresswell won't be finalised until Friday but both he and O'Loughlin received cortisone injections yesterday to try to accelerate the healing process.
Experienced forward Matthew Nicks will come into the team for O'Loughlin but it's hard to see Sydney being able to cover the loss of two key positional players.
O'Loughlin and Cresswell have 421 games experience between them and both played in the 1996 grand final.
O'Loughlin is the Swans' second highest goalkicker this season with 41 while Cresswell has been back to his best this season.
He has kicked 18 goals.
If the Swans lose to Port they will host the winner of the Fremantle v Essendon elimination final. If Sydney upset Port they get the second week of the finals off.
"It's disappointing not to be playing but it's an exciting time for the club, especially for the young players," O'Loughlin said.
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