Different coach, but it’s the same injury pain for Essendon. Just ahead of half-time during the Bombers’ clash with Melbourne on Saturday, star midfielder Archie Roberts went down with a nasty shoulder injury.
Match Incident
In a tackle gone wrong on Melbourne superstar Kysaiah Pickett, Roberts popped his shoulder and was in intense pain before being taken from the field. Commentators reacted immediately: “Archie’s popped his shoulder here,” Cam Mooney said. “Oh no, he has. It’s out,” Kelli Underwood added. Mooney continued: “Oh, he’s in a lot of pain ... Well, that’s just another star player out for Essendon.”
Moments earlier, Melbourne debutant Lukas Cooke was ruled out for the match with a cheekbone injury after a clash of heads with Ben McKay. “There has been injury carnage here at the MCG in the last few minutes,” Leigh Montagna noted.
Impact on Essendon
Roberts going down is a brutal blow for Essendon and interim coach Dean Solomon. In Essendon’s Round 5 clash against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, Roberts was best on ground for the Bombers with 42 disposals and a goal in what has been their only win for the year.
Essendon’s long injury list during the week had to be seen to be believed, with 16 players on it, many of them long term. The club announced just a few days ago that Archie May would be having surgery after dislocating his shoulder in the match against West Coast, ending his season. Ball-magnet Nic Martin was ruled out for the year before the season started due to knee issues, and Brayden Fiorini is also done for the season with a back complaint. Big man Peter Wright is 4-5 weeks away, while captain Andy McGrath is expected to return soon following his broken jaw.
More to come ...
