SOUTH Warrnambool is bracing for the worst after star recruit Josh Saunders went down with a knee injury in the opening quarter of Saturday’s win over Camperdown.
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Roosters coach Mathew Buck said the extent of the injury was unknown at this stage, but the club would learn after scans during the week whether Saunders had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament or not.
“He may have done his knee, we’re waiting to hear during the week after he has scans,” Buck said.
“He just twisted it in a tackle and came off.”
Buck said while the club was “probably fearing the worst”, they were hoping for better news.
The injury was a blight on an otherwise very powerful display from the Roosters.
They defeated Camperdown 15.15 (105) to 4.16 (40) at Friendly Societies’ Park, leading by 80 points at the final change before taking the foot off the pedal to coast home for a 65-point win.
“We were really happy with the way we played – we thought we defended the game really well,” Buck said.
“To keep Camperdown to four goals is exactly how we wanted to play.
“I was really proud of the boys.”
Tom White finished with five goals, while Sam Thompson kicked three goals in an impressive second term as the Roosters piled on eight majors to one, opening up a 55-point half-time lead.
“We kicked with the breeze to start the game and we probably didn’t kick as accurately as we thought we should,” Buck said.
They addressed the issue at quarter-time, with a focus on better disposal into the forward 50, and with the back line launching play, they were able to send it in straighter and pick better options going against the breeze in the second term.
With a more than healthy buffer at the final change, the Roosters eased off as Camperdown found a little bit of momentum, cutting the final margin by 15 points.
But inaccuracy hurt the Magpies, who finished with just one goal from every five scoring shots.
Charlie Fry was Camperdown’s top contributor, while the returning Daniel Seehusen slotted back in seamlessly, earning a spot in Camperdown’s best.
Roosters’ ruckman Manny Sandow set his teammates up with first use of the ball, while former Blue Corey Gallichan impressed across halfback in his first game for his new club.