- In the mix: round 19
- Hawks rule out Whitecross return
DEAN Cox sustained the most important injury from the weekend because of the effect it will have on the rest of his season if he doesn't come up.
While it was only a concussion and not a broken jaw, which surprised me, we can't say he might just miss a week because some players don't recover that fast.
There's just no predictable return from concussion.
Heath Shaw hasn't missed just a week – he's still getting over a bruised brain sustained in round 15.
It's a pity for Cox because he only has a handful of games left and you hope he doesn't miss an extended period of time before he can train fully and pass the ongoing concussion assessments.
The Sydney Swans' Dan Hannebery has now missed six weeks, and five matches, with his right ankle "high" sprain (syndesmosis).
It's been a bit slower than expected and the medical staff is still protecting him for another week – he probably won't play against Essendon on Friday night.
Sam Reid hyperextended his left knee in the third quarter against Hawthorn but finished the game. I think he was fortunate not to do any structural damage but he will have stretched the knee and may have some soreness.
They'll wait and see how he trains but he will require treatment this week and may have some swelling, which places him in doubt for Friday night.
Rhyce Shaw has missed five weeks with a similar but less severe right ankle injury than Hannebery's, and has trained well over the last week and is likely to be available to face the Bombers.
For the Dons, Michael Hibberd finished the round 18 game with tightness in his hamstring, which was initially reported as a "quad" injury. This was a recurrence of his earlier round 15 hammy concern and scans have since revealed another strain that will see him miss 2-3 weeks more.
Port Adelaide has been managing Angus Monfries and Alipate Carlile with hamstring concerns.
Monfries was a bigger concern because it was his second one for the year – after round 16 he pulled up sore again and he's missed three weeks but I would have thought that was about right because it was only low-grade episode.
I expect he'll be right to get through a fitness test, and Carlile was expected to be back the round after the bye.
I expect both to be available for Port this week if required.
However, Jackson Trengove was predicted to have a six-week ankle ligament injury and I would him expect him to return in round 21 or 22 as he remains on track with his progress.
Adelaide thinks Patrick Dangerfield will face West Coast but he has bruising over the front of his right knee from the direct collision against Collingwood.
He had assessments done to rule out any significant medial ligament or cartilage damage and the club is confident he's avoided anything structural.
There's no doubt his knee will still feel the effects, and he's also been playing with his left knee strapped from his round 16 twisting incident.
Ideally he would have another week to recover but most likely will play against the Eagles despite his mobility being affected.
James Podsiadly strained the medial ligament in his left elbow in the first quarter and completed the win over the Pies with protective strapping.
It's likely he will continue to play with the elbow strapped.
Scott Thompson has hamstring pain related to nerve referral from his back and has had two weeks off – I think it's likely he'll be available this week.
Luke McPharlin tried to play against St Kilda with the sore calf he sustained in round 17 – I thought he would miss three weeks on the basis of his history – but he played in round 18 and didn't get through the game when he "tightened up".
Now he's had the benefit of the week off with the bye but you'd have to think he would still be a liability to play this week. He will need to pass a strenuous training session without any soreness.
Zac Smith from Gold Coast has been carrying some right knee soreness and he had a further incident to his right ankle, which appeared to be an aggravation of a previous problem.
The ankle sustained an eversion (medial ligament) stress and he sat out the last half of the match - he was on crutches after the game.
After discussions with surgeons he is likely to miss at least four games but may not play again this season if potential surgery goes ahead.
Charlie Dixon could miss at least a month at best with a left quadriceps injury he suffered against the Brisbane Lions in the first quarter, which saw him subbed out. He also is in doubt to play again this year.
West Coast's Luke Shuey had his third ankle injury for the season and was carried off but managed to get back on the ground with some treatment.
He'll be feeling the effects of that and will need to pass a strenuous fitness test.
Matt Spangher is however likely to be available for Hawthorn to face the Western Bulldogs on Sunday after missing the win over the Swans with an irritable ankle.
