AJ ruptured ACL ?

[Legs Akimbo]

Watching it in the replay, it looks so innocuous. is it a sliding doors moment or was his number up? I can't help wondering if he had kicked it a slightly differently earlier in the quarter would play taken a different direction and he's be happy AJ today? Or has it been weakening over the last few days, weeks, months, a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

[Jewels]

What a shame for the young bloke. Having been in the knee recon club myself, it's a p&$%k of an injury. I wonder if he'll go LARS or traditional??

My moneys on a Lars, our club seems to really favour it.
If they did go for a Lars, barring any complications that would have him back around the same time as Tippett becomes available I would think.

[RogueSwan]

Get well soon AJ.

I don't think Horse will look for a like for like replacement (just for the record I think Ted is the closest like for like ATM).
I think he will just pick the best 22 and go from there.

[707]

I don't think Horse will look for a like for like replacement ....... I think he will just pick the best 22 and go from there.

Agree, we don't have a like for like so we'll just pick the best back six for the task at hand that week. Armstrong has been very impressive in the NAB Cup and must be first choice to slot in, Rampe will probably get a run too.

Really need to get some of the other injured players back soon. Can the footy gods please smile on Tom Mitchell, please, please.

[ernie koala]

Watching it in the replay, it looks so innocuous. is it a sliding doors moment or was his number up? I can't help wondering if he had kicked it a slightly differently earlier in the quarter would play taken a different direction and he's be happy AJ today? Or has it been weakening over the last few days, weeks, months, a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

I heard Clarkson being interviewed about Suckling, who also did his knee. He reckons young players are particularly vunreable to ACL injuries early in the season.

He reckons there legs get hardened over the course of the playing season, which gives much better support to the knee, and that makes them much less susceptible to ACLs.

Not sure if stats back him up or not, but I suspect he's checked. It certainly gives a answer to why these innocuous looking incidents turn out so bad.

[Dosser]

I heard Clarkson being interviewed about Suckling, who also did his knee. He reckons young players are particularly vunreable to ACL injuries early in the season.

He reckons there legs get hardened over the course of the playing season, which gives much better support to the knee, and that makes them much less susceptible to ACLs.

Not sure if stats back him up or not, but I suspect he's checked. It certainly gives a answer to why these innocuous looking incidents turn out so bad.

The word is that Suckling will be opting for a traditional reco as the club believes it is the best option for a young player who should have a long career ahead of him.

[Ratna]

Very sad firstly for AJ and also team and club, hope treatment and recovery go well. A classic bloods player who goes about his job with no fuss week in week out and generally beats his opponent.

It will be interesting to see how the defence goes without him. His versatility and consistency will make him really hard to replace. I agree with other posts about like for like replacements, I don't think there is anyone on the list who can fill his shoes, it will be just a matter of pushing the next defender in line up and reshuffling from there.

[Primmy]

bugger bugger bugger.

[Nico]

I would just like to add that AJ is about the best young footballer that I have ever seen at his age to slot straight into a top side's 22. Certainly in the red and white. His coolness under pressure, reading of the play, adherence to the game plan and running ability are nothing short of sensational.

[Triple B]

Clutching at straws to find a silver lining in all this, but if he goes the traditional reco and has a full 12 months off, he can really work on building his strength in the upper body. He looks to me the logical replacement for Teddy in a few years time...

[RogueSwan]

AJ ruptured ACL ?

I would just like to add that AJ is about the best young footballer that I have ever seen at his age to slot straight into a top side's 22. Certainly in the red and white.
.

Hanners?

[wolftone57]

Very sad indeed. I saw him go down on the stream. Apparently the players near him heard it pop. a wonderful young player and he will be back. I hope he goes LARS as Mal was young when he had his first and it is really good today.

[ScottH]

He collected and heavy knock last week in the "Ted no free kick" incident, and needed the Docs attention then.
I wonder if something was "loosened" then and that the added "knock" this w/e made it snap?

Anyway. I'm devastated for him.
Very sad news.

[Nico]

Hanners?

True, but Hanners didn't play anywhere near the games as AJ in his first season.

[Auntie.Gerald]

its funny Nico

a few good mates of mine who played alot of high standard footy didnt rate AJ the first half of his first season.

They were all midfielders BTW

I personally thought AJ had one of the more difficult jobs besides marking Buddy week in week out

They thought AJ looked stoooped over in body language and not owning his opponent and was making some seriously average kicking options out of the backline

I personally thought AJ had a very difficult task of going from talls to smalls to medium height players and did it fairly well and was always confident that he would kick on despite some of his kicking options being a bit ordinary

I feel the same about Rampe........he is a competitor just like AJ and those guys create their own path !