A quartet of injuries, including a concussion that’s likely to attract the attention of the Match Review Panel, has taken some off the gloss of Bannockburn’s Anzac Day win over Inverleigh.
Restricted to no rotations after half-time, the Tigers held on for a gritty 10-point victory over their Golden Plains neighbours.
Geelong Falcon Ryan Perkins suffered a broken wrist, with Ayden Osborne (groin) and Jai Robinson (corked calf) also sidelined by the main break.
During the second quarter, Falcons-listed Leigham Elzinga was concussed in a tackle by Inverleigh’s Fin O’Keefe.
“He got sling tackled to the ground head first,” coach Ron Pilgrim said.
“I spoke to him last night; I rang him about an hour-and-a-half after the game.
“He was a bit groggy, but he was back at home. He didn’t need any (medical) attention).
Pilgrim also felt for Perkins, who had played the opening three rounds of the Talent League season and was impressing for the Tigers.
“He was flying up until that moment; he was best on the ground by a fair way,” Pilgrim said.
“It’s unfortunate.”
Elzinga will enter the 21-day concussion protocol, which will see him sidelined until at least the Round 7 meeting with the Belmont Lions.
Osborne and Robinson could benefit from a nine-day gap between games, with the Tigers enjoying the weekend off before a clash with North Geelong.
Pilgrim quickly told his players how proud he was of them following the win.
“To beat the premiership side from last year with no bench was pretty impressive,” he said.
Inverleigh also has an injury concern out of the match, with Anglesea recruit Daniel Midolo suffering a hamstring during the second quarter.
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