Fracture puts Warnock out half a seasonFont Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print Greg Denham | February 09, 2009
Article from: The Australian
IN what has been a shocking past few days for Carlton, more bad news: new ruckman Robbie Warnock could miss the entire first half of the season.
The Blues admitted yesterday a foot stress fracture diagnosed last month, is worse than initially thought and Warnock may not be available at the elite level until the second half of the season.
It is a bitter blow to the Blues, predicted to be the big improvers of 2009 having not played in finals since 2001.
Carlton's latest misfortunes started on Friday during an intra-club practice match at Princes Park when 2007 best and fairest winner Andrew Carrazzo fractured his left arm, ruling him out of competitive work for the next six to eight weeks.
And it continued with the brain snap of Setanta O'hAilpin, who will today be heavily penalised by the AFL match review panel for striking and kicking teammate Cameron Cloke.
The O'hAilpin incident has been widely perceived nationally as damaging to the Carlton brand, something the club has been working hard to rectify in recent seasons.
Warnock was a priority recruit during last season's trade period, with the Blues giving up a second-round national draft selection to Fremantle to secure him. No other club parted with a first or second-round pick to bring in a player during the exchange period.
Warnock, recovering from shoulder surgery that cut short his 2008 season with the Dockers, was diagnosed with the stress fracture when he resumed training after Christmas. He had previously been restricted in his two seasons with Fremantle by ankle and other shoulder surgery.
The 22-year-old was originally scheduled to undergo a two-month rehabilitation program, but that period is set to at least double before he will be allowed to gain match fitness via the VFL.
Blues general manager of football operations Steven Icke yesterday said Warnock's comeback would be treated with a "cautious approach" as he was viewed as a long-term prospect.
"His body is still growing and with that comes a lot of vulnerability," Icke said of the 206cm giant who is almost 6cm taller that the Blues' other ruckmen Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson.
"We're certainly not going to rush him, we need to protest his longevity.
"He's now about 10 weeks behind the rest of our group, so his pre-season will start this week."
Icke said Carlton was confident of covering for Warnock in the short term, using Hampson and Kreuzer with support from Cloke, who will more than likely start 2009 as a key forward.
He also hinted at the possible upgrading of rookie ruckman Sam Jacobs, who is entering his third season on the rookie list with the Blues after playing at senior level in the SANFL in 2006.
The revelation for the Blues in last Friday's much-publicised practice match was Tasmanian national draft selection Mitch Robinson, picked up with selection No40 last year. The teenager was outstanding as a midfielder/forward and capped off his first-up performance with four goals.
Meanwhile captain Chris Judd, Andrew Walker, Brad Fisher, Michael Jamison and Paul Bower are all expected to be available for the Blues' first-round NAB Cup clash against North Melbourne at Telstra Dome on February 20.
Running defender Heath Scotland is not expected to play a practice match until later next month after groin surgery.
* Essendon utility Andrew Welsh will miss between three and four months after breaking his right leg in the Bombers' intra-club practice match at Whitten Oval last Friday. Welsh, who has played 134 games, also dislocated and received ligament damage to his ankle.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25025726-5012432,00.html 
