Just a week after learning that Simon Taylor would miss 4 months with a broken leg and knowing that Luke Lowden (developing ruckman who was placed on the Long Term Injury list) and Max Bailey (who injured his knee in round 22 last year) would both not be available till well into the season, more bad news has been released.
In a press release today, the Hawks have announced that Rookie upgrade target, Wade Skipper, thought to be inline for the second ruck position, has gone down with a serious hamstring injury. After leaving the field in the first half of the Hawks final NAB Challenge match compalining of knee instability, it was found that he had injured his Hamstring Tendon.
He will be off running for the next 2 weeks and the club is reporting that he will not be available for selection for 6-8 weeks.
This will probably mean that Renouf will have to spend more time on the field. Apart from this, Beau Dowler and Jordan Lisle could be used as a mobile ruckman, something that I think Alistair Clarkson would like to have in the side or they could throw long term option, Sam Grimley to the wolves and hope he can learn on the job, although you would think he would be badly pashed around. The intriguing option is to use Jarrod Roughead who is mobile enough and big enough to do the job but is so valuable up forward.
To me this run of injuries is another reason I believe that the AFL should look at having Free Agency into the season. I believe clubs should be able to bring in players from outside there club in such a special situation, as long as the player being brought in was available to be selected in the most recent draft.
