St Kilda’s sizeable injury list continued to shorten following Luke Dunstan’s return to full training after the shoulder injury that kept him out for a final stages of last season.
On the back of a dismal season that saw the Saints finish bottom of the AFL ladder with four wins and 18 defeats, the club also had to deal with a number of injuries to key personnel throughout the year.
That list has been eased in recent weeks with the return of some important players ahead of a 2015 season in which the latest AFL odds are tipping the Saints for a tough year.
Dunstan is the latest player cleared to return to full training following his spell on the sidelines with a shoulder problem. The 19-year-old was one of the Saints’ best players last year, despite struggling with the injury for much of the campaign and finally undergoing surgery after round 19 to bring to an end to a stellar rookie season.
The tough youngster did enough in his 16 appearances to earn the round one NAB AFL Rising Star nomination as well as the club’s Most Promising Player award. His injury was therefore a real blow to a Saints side that desperately needed its best players fully fit.
Dunstan’s return comes hot on the heels of team-mates Eli Templeton, Tom Lee, Jarryn Geary and Shane Savage all being cleared to take part and rejoin the rest of the St Kilda squad in full training.
The group’s return will be a huge boost to the club’s pre-season plans, alleviating one of the lengthiest injury-lists in the AFL and giving Saints fans some hope that next season could be a much more successful experience.
Jimmy Webster, Luke Delaney and Tom Curren can also return to training after being passed fit by the club’s medical staff. Meanwhile, Josh Bruce is on course to return to action in time for the new season as he continues his recovery from surgery on his shin injury in August.
But while there has been plenty of good news regarding injuries for the Saints, the club’s medical department still have their hands full as players, most notably Tom Hickey, work their way back to full fitness.
A foot injury and then knee tendonitis restricted the ruckman to just six appearances in 2014, although the 23-year-old is on course to be fit in time for the Saints’ opening game of the season against Greater Western Sydney. Experienced defender Sam Gilbert is also on that time schedule.
Arryn Siposs continues his rehab after jarring the reconstructed shoulder that kept him out of the end of last season in pre-season training, with it still unclear as to how long the long-kicking utility will be out for.
The same can be said of No.41 draft pick Jack Lonie, who will continue to wear a protective boot until the end of January following the ankle injury he suffered in training at the turn of the year.
While both are expected to be back in time for the opening game of the season, it remains to be seen as to how many of the other injured Saints players will be available for the GWS clash.
