Chris McLaren: knee scans today.
KOROIT playing coach Chris McLaren will have scans on his knee today to determine the extent of an injury sustained in the third quarter of the Super Saturday loss to Terang Mortlake.
The Saints coach has been told by a doctor that the worst-case scenario would be a season-ending knee reconstruction.
“I’ll have the scans and wait and see what happens after that,” he said.
“The doctor has said that the worst-case scenario is a knee reconstruction, which is on the cards a little bit.
“I’ve been told to maybe prepare for the worst-case scenario.
“But I’ll just have to wait and see.”
McLaren sustained the injury to his right knee in a tackle early in the third quarter at Terang Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
“It felt a bit sore,” the defender said. “I played the whole game but since then it’s got quite swollen and quite sore.”
The injury will potentially force McLaren to withdraw from the Hampden interleague squad.
The Saints coach said he would be confined to the sidelines for Saturday’s clash with Cobden, in which both sides are trying to bounce back from losses last weekend.
The Bombers are coming off a 39-point loss to North Warrnambool Eagles, while the Saints suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Bloods, going down by 20 points.
While McLaren is a certain exclusion for Saturday’s encounter at Cobden, potential additions to the side — defender Dallas Mooney and North Ballarat Rebels teenager Jayden Whitehead — will be assessed during the week.
“Dallas did his ankle against North and is a good chance to play,” McLaren said. “Jayden had his tonsils out a couple of weeks ago, so we’ll see if he’s fit and healthy.”
Koroit has already lost a key defender for most of the season, with McLaren’s brother Liam sidelined with a hip injury.