IMPRESSIVE defender Caleb Marchbank will be sidelined for the next four weeks with an ankle injury.

The 21-year-old came off the field midway through the first term during the Blues’ 24-point loss to Collingwood on Friday night, with Head of Football Andrew McKay saying the Club would take a conservative approach with the management of his injury.

“He obviously didn’t play the whole game and went off injured with that ankle. There’s not a whole lot of damage there thankfully but he will be out for around four weeks,” McKay said.

“It will depend on his level of pain tolerance when he makes his way back into the skills program, but at this stage he’ll be out for around four weeks.”

Ruckman Matthew Lobbe is also set to face a similar stint on the sidelines, succumbing to a hamstring injury in the Northern Blues’ VFL Round 1 loss to the Pies on Saturday.

“Matthew unfortunately strained his hamstring in the VFL game on the weekend. He’s into his rehab now but he’ll be out for about four weeks or so too,” he said.

McKay said Darcy Lang would undergo fitness tests this week to determine his availability for VFL selection as he overcomes an ankle injury.

“Darcy was a test last week and unfortunately didn’t get through all of training then so we’re looking at training him fully this week,” he said.

“If he gets through training, he’ll be a test at the end of the week and hopefully available for selection at VFL level. Otherwise, we’re confident he’ll get up for the following week.”

McKay said defensive duo Ciaran Byrne (quad) and Tom Williamson (back) were progressing strongly in their respective recoveries, and are expected to be available in approximately three weeks.

“Ciaran is still 3-4 weeks away before being eligible for selection. He’s doing his rehab and he’ll be back on the park sooner rather than later,” he said on Tuesday afternoon.

“Tom is progressing steadily and is still three to four weeks away like Ciaran. His back is improving, but it is still a bit stiff so we’re integrating Tom back into the skills program nice and slowly so we don’t have a recurrence of that injury.”

Meanwhile, fellow defender Alex Silvagni is continuing in his journey back from a hamstring injury and is expected to resume full training capabilities in approximately two to three weeks.

“Alex is progressing quite well with his hamstring and is two to three weeks away and will be integrated back into full training in the next couple of weeks,” McKay said.

McKay also revealed Irishman Cillian McDaid will miss the next month of football after suffering a foot injury.



“Cillian suffered a hotspot on his foot, and we noticed that last week. We’re going to take that slowly in terms of the management and he’ll be four to five weeks before he’s available for selection for the VFL.

INJURY LIST PRE-ROUND 4:

Lang (ankle) - Test

A.Silvagni (hamstring) - 2-3 weeks

Byrne (quad) - 3-4 weeks

Marchbank (ankle) - 4 weeks

Lobbe (hamstring) - 4 weeks

Williamson (back) - 3-4 weeks

McDaid (foot) - 4-5 weeks

Pickett (scaphoid) - 10 weeks