Torquay could be without James Darke for the remainder of the Bellarine home-and-away season after suffering a fractured hand in Saturday’s win over Modewarre.
Coach Dom Gleeson says the four-time Les Ash medalist, who was playing his sixth game back from a knee reconstruction, is weighing up with his doctor on whether to undergo surgery.
“He’s put on a brave face to say 2-4 weeks,” Gleeson said. “Doctors have said you can play with it bearing the pain.
“As a coach and a friend now of Darkey’s, it’s one of those tricky situations where I’d love him to play, but I just don’t want to force him to – there’s a long time after football.
“But, he’s only seeing it one way, and he wants to play.”
The best case for Darke is returning for the final round meeting with finals aspirants Barwon Heads.
If he isn’t back the Seagulls, it would be the second semi-final, with Torquay claiming the minor premiership with its victory over the Warriors.
Not surprisingly, Gleeson would have no qualms in bringing Darke straight back of a five-week break.
“Not after what we saw after 12 months off; he was just outstanding,” Gleeson said.
“In his first game, he had plenty of disposals from the half-back flank.
“But, what was so great to see was accountability. And out of those disposals, he just didn’t miss targets, and he really broke the game up and got the game going for us.
“That’s what we’re going to miss over the next month.”
Darke isn’t the only injury concern from the weekend.
Former Geelong Falcon Banjo Dyer is battling a stress reaction in his foot that requires further investigation.
However, captain Ben McNamara is tracking well in his recovery from a concussion suffered in the win over Angelsea.
Under the protocols, he will miss this week’s meeting with the Coutas before being free to return against Portarlington in the following round if given the all-clear.
“He has returned to light duties,” Gleeson said.
“You wouldn’t really know (he suffered a concussion); he’s healed really well, which is the best result.
“And he’s back at work and everything like that.
“We’ll get him back, hopefully, Portarlington. If not, the following week against Barwon Heads.”
Meanwhile, Bannockburn star Kieran Fulton has been placed in the concussion protocol by the club despite no confirmed diagnosis.
Fulton was felled by a knock by teammate Ashton Phillips early in the third quarter of the Tigers’ loss to Thomson at Godfrey Street.
He will miss crucial clashes with seventh-placed North Geelong and third-placed Belmont Lions before returning for a final-round battle with Bell Post Hill that could determine Bannockburn’s finals fate.
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