HIS return to Bannockburn already delayed by a year due to COVID, Tristan Battaglia will have to wait a little bit longer to pull on the yellow and black for the first time since 2010.
The former St Albans skipper confirmed to krockfootball.com.au he underwent surgery last week after a workplace accident.
“I was cutting some timber, and the (circular) saw, unfortunately, kicked back on me and ran over the top of my thumb,” Battaglia, who played 100 senior games for the Supersaints, said.
“I cut the tendon and half of the bone, so I had an operation last Thursday night to get a bit of wire put in, and they fixed up the tendon as well.
“I get the wire out in four weeks, and, hopefully, the rehab doesn’t take too long after that, and I can be back to footy as soon as possible.”
Battaglia will miss at least five matches in a blow to Bannockburn’s hopes of going back-to-back after snapping a 16-year premiership drought in 2019.
“That’s if everything goes well and it heals well,” he said.
“It’s pretty devastating, but it is what it is. I’ll do what I need to do to get myself right.
“Hopefully, that’s sooner rather than later.”
Bannockburn hosts Winchelsea in the inaugural night game at Victoria Park on April 10 to open its season.
Twitter: @tom_king79
