Sharpshooter Cleve Hughes has not broken his ankle and is still a chance to play in the monster clash with Morningside at Esplen Oval on Sunday.
Monday 12 July 2010
Ace Southport full-forward Cleve Hughes is still a chance to play in the huge Round 14 clash against Morningside at Esplen Oval on Sunday.
Hughes hobbled off Fankhauser Reserve just before halftime in the Sharks’ loss to Labrador and was obviously inconvenienced in a short spell back on the ground in the third term.
Rumours swept QAFL circles afterwards suggesting Hughes’ ankle had been broken, but coach Craig Crowley set the record straight this morning.
“He was walking on it on Saturday night,” Crowley laughed.
“It is in a boot at the moment but we are hoping he will play on Sunday. If he does miss, it gives him the bye as well to recover and he should be back after that.”
Crowley went as far to admit that he was prepared to play his key go-to man even at something less than fully fit.
“If he does come up to something around 70% we may still play him, although we still have to make sure we do the right thing by him,” the two-time premiership coach said.
Crowley is more confident that unsung centre-half-forward Ben Merrett, a key to the Sharks’ 11-2 win-loss record, will be fit after hurting a shoulder early in the loss to the Tigers and being kept from going back as a precaution.
Morningside are expected to bring back Zane Taylor Medallist Paul Shelton for the clash after a week’s training following his month-long European vacation.
