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Pre-season
injuries
plague
AFL clubs
MELBOURNE: Champi-
on Melbourne ruckman Jim
Stynes is likely to be fit for
the opening of the Austra-
lian Football League season,
despite sending shock waves
through his club by injuring
his ankle at the weekend.
Stynes, last year's Brownlow
medallist, hobbled off the ground
during Saturday night's practice
match victory over Brisbane, ad-
ding to the Demons' injury woes.
'Captain Garry Lyon's ankle
problem recurred and he also
hobbled off, as did key-position
player Paul Bryce With a similar
complaint.
Melbourne has a bye this week
so its wounded have until March
28 to come right for the clash with
Geelong.
"Jim's ankle is still swollen but
we believe he is a definite possi-
bility for our first game," said
Melbourne football manager Pe-
ter Kennedy.
"Garry aggravated an old inju-
ry on Saturday but seemed a lot
better on Sunday, so he should
also be right for the first match.
"Paul was still walking with a
little discomfort on' Sunday, so
we will have to see how he goes."
However, the Demons have
regained utilities Simon Eishold
and Rod Grinter from injury and
the pair might play against South
Australian club Norwood in a
practice match on Thursday.
Hawthorn and Geelong clash
in the season-opener at Waverley
Park on Saturday and both clubs
will be missing key players.
The Hawks have only one in-
jury worry — defender Chris
Wittman with a hamstring prob-
lem — ruckman Stephen Law-
rence and Anthony Condon will
be serving out suspensions in the
first two games.
Geelong is still without its two
star ruckmen, Damian Bourke
and Stephen Hooper, due to long
time knee problems, while classy
rover Neville Bruns is recovering
from surgery on torn stomach
and groin muscles.
Key defender Tim Darcy is
out with an ankle problem and
rover Tony Malakellis and re-
cruit Stephen Handley will have
to pass fitness tests on respective
ankle and calf problems.
Footscray received a minor
scare on the weekend when rover
Brian Royal pulled up with a sore
ankle after a reserves practice
match against Geelong.
"Brian is a little sore in the
ankle but hopefully he should be
okay," said Footscray football
manager Gary O'Sullivan.
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