Injury ravaged GWS head to Canberra
Cameron has had increasing pain in his hips in recent weeks and this was further aggravated when he suffered a wrenched hip against Port Adelaide in Round 19. After consulting with surgeons, it was decided he would undergo hip surgery immediately to prepare for the pre-season.
Cameron has played 16 games and kicked 29 goals in his debut season and earned a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for his four goal performance against North Melbourne in Round Two.
Jonathon Patton also met with surgeons late last week after scans revealed a small tear and labaral damage to his shoulder suffered in the game against Port Adelaide. He has since travelled to Melbourne and will undergo shoulder surgery today.
Both players will now undertake a 12-week recovery program but are expected to be fully fit and ready to join the GIANTS pre-season training by late November.
Young midfielder Dylan Shiel has also undergone surgery earlier this week for an injury to his toe. The surgery was successful and it is expected that Shiel will be running by mid December and ready for the NAB Cup in 2013.
GIANTS Co-Captain Callan Ward is meeting with surgeons later this week to assess how best to treat the early stages of a slight reoccurrence of his pre-existing osteitis pubis.
GIANTS’ Head of Sports Science, John Quinn, said the long season had taken its toll on some of the club’s young players in their first year of AFL.
“We’re being proactive with these young bodies. With a player like Jeremy it was evident early on that he would need surgery at some point and now this will relieve him of his pain and give him the best chance for a full preseason heading in to 2013,” he said.
“Patton obviously sustained the shoulder injury two weeks ago and the advice we received from the surgeons was to have the procedure done immediately. This will enable him to be ready for his first full preseason, as last year he was hampered by a knee injury and subsequent surgery.
“We’re very happy with the results of Dylan’s surgery and whilst it is a six month recovery for him, we have excellent fitness and medical staff to get him to his full potential by NAB Cup.”
A severely depleted GWS GIANTS side will look to find their third win against an underperforming Demons side in Canberra on Saturday at 2:10pm at Manuka Oval.
A win this weekend would almost ensure Kevin Sheedy retains his wooden spoon free record for another season.
Melbourne Demons have struggled for form all season, parked one above the GIANTS on the ladder with three wins.
Key players James Frawely, Jack Watts, Cale Morton, Mitch Clarke, Aaron Davey and Mark Jamar are all expected to be left out of the Demons side for this weekend.
GWS announced today that its side will also be depleted with a number of key players obtaining injuries in the last three rounds.
Forwards Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton will undergo surgery today and have been ruled out for the reminder of the 2012 season.
The GIANTS will also be without Adam Tomlinson this week after he suffered a bruised kidney against the Gold Coast Suns. He is expected to miss a week. Liam Sumner will also miss the remainder of the season after straining his quad while playing for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL.
A number of players including Toby Greene, Taylor Adams, Rhys Palmer and James McDonald are all expected to be available for selection for this Saturday’s match against Melbourne at Manuka Oval after overcoming injuries.