NIRRANDA workhorse Jesse Dalton will miss at least six weeks of football as he recovers from fractures in a foot and lower leg.
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Dalton limped from the ground during the first quarter of the Blues’ loss to Allansford at Nirranda last round but managed to play out the match.
Optimism he would not miss a match soon evaporated as the diagnosis came through.
The key forward is in plaster and faces a stint on the sidelines.
“He toughed it out pretty well, then he got some bad news,” Blues coach Aidan Cole said.
“He chipped a bone in his foot and just above his ankle bone he might have a small fracture.
“He’s got it all plastered up. He’ll be looking at six weeks, definitely.”
Cole said he was impressed with how Dalton played out the match against the Cats under duress. The initial diagnosis was a knee injury.
“He limped off, wore it on the chin a bit and ended up going back out,” Cole said.
“He didn’t do too bad when he went back on. I was pretty pleased with the way he went about it.”
Dalton was the only omission to the Blues side for the match of the round against Old Collegians at Davidson Oval tomorrow.
His replacement is Cole, who returns after a hamstring complaint sidelined him for a week.
Old Collegians kept faith with the same side which defeated Panmure but rotated their substitutes, adding Nathan Wallace for Dylan Keane.
Elsewhere, Dennington turned over almost half its side for the clash against Russells Creek at Mack Oval.
The Dogs made 10 changes to the side which beat Deakin University. Six of the omissions were teenagers who return to the under 17½ ranks.
Leigh Evans pulled up sore from interleague last weekend, Tully Allwood was omitted while Luke Pearson and Grayden Russells are unavailable.
Alex Pye, coach Darcy Lewis and Luke Duncan are the big inclusions. John Vincent and Chris Paton receive promotions after impressing in the reserves.
Russells Creek made three changes, regaining Jordan Umbers and Ty Clarke among them.
Sam Newey, Jeff Rosolin and Joe Paatsch strengthen Timboon Demons’ line-up for its fixture against East Warrnambool at Timboon.
Trent Clark is the sole addition for the Bombers, who lose Cale Jarvis to illness.
Tom Wright makes a welcome return to the Panmure side for when it plays Deakin University at D. C. Farran Oval.
Wright is among four changes for the Bulldogs, who lose Tommy Jones to fractured ribs.
The ever-present theme of change continued at the Sharks, who turned over six players. Sam Bushaway is among the inclusions.
Matt Lenehan will play his first senior match for the season when Allansford hosts South Rovers at Allansford.
Lenehan is among three changes. Rory Neeson and Matt Kelly are also in, for Allan Noone, Ben Lenehan and enterprising teen Luke Irving.
Nick Wormald will likewise make his season debut for South Rovers, which made three changes. Josh Bell is among the outs.
And Kolora-Noorat regains George O’Sullivan and former coach Ben Kenna for its intriguing match-up with reigning premier Merrivale at Noorat.
Mitch Elford will miss the first of multiple matches due to an overseas trip while Ben Reid is ill.
A broken finger has sidelined Merrivale recruit Tim Carter, one of three omissions for the Tigers.
Claye Cassidy is unavailable and James Cook is omitted. Jack Gleeson, Sam Lovell and Alex Pulling earn recalls.