CORK’S CIARAN SHEEHAN will miss this week’s AFL opener for his club Carlton due to a groin injury while Mayo’s Pearce Hanley is off crutches after a hip operation and is on the comeback trail with the Brisbane Lions.
The 2015 AFL season starts this week with Carlton Blues facing Richmond Tigers in the opener on Thursday night and while Laois player Zach Tuohy will ensure Carlton have Irish interest, Sheehan will miss the game.
But Carlton’s Head of Football Andrew McKay is forecasting Sheehan ‘improving enormously’ in the year ahead.
“Ciaran Sheehan’s being upgraded to a nominated rookie which is fantastic. He obviously had a good year last year, his first year, played a number of AFL senior games.
“We’re looking forward to him improving enormously this year. He has got a bit of a groin (injury) at this stage. He’s progressing along nicely but still probably a week or so away.”
Meanwhile Hanley has begun his rehabilitation from hip surgery. The Mayo native, who has been named as a vice-captain of the club, underwent surgery to clean up bone and cartilage in his hip.
“Pearce is off crutches,” says Brisbane Lions S&C coach Matt Hass. He’s moving around quite freely now. He had his first run on our AlterG treadmill which is a treadmill where we can alter the amount of body weight that he’s running at.
“He had his first run as I mentioned and he pulled up really well. (He’s) started to do some walking drills on the ground. The rehab boys are really confident with where he’s at and hopefully he’s on track for the round of bye.”
