Star Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver won’t return for this Sunday’s clash against GWS.
Oliver hasn’t played since the Round 10 loss to Port Adelaide with a hamstring injury and infection keeping him sidelined across the last five weeks.
While he was pushing for a return some weeks ago, Melbourne GM of Football Performance Alan Richardson says that recent scans have shown that his hamstring injury is still holding him back from a return.
“Clayton had follow-up scans on his hamstring last week, those scans - in combination with some of our objective markers, have shown he’s not quite ready to progress through the final stages of our return-to-play program,” Richardson said via statement.
“He’s continuing to integrate into team training as we continue to build him through those final stages of his hamstring rehabilitation program.”
Richardson also confirmed that defender Hibberd would miss the GWS clash with a lower rib injury.
“Unfortunately for Michael, during one of the early contests in the game he suffered an injury to his lower ribs,” Richardson said.
“Following further imaging, it’s shown that he has minor damage to his kidney, which will require him to be limited from contact for a short-term period to allow healing.
“Once we get clearance from the medical professionals we’ve been consulting with, he’ll re-integrate into contest work.”
The bounce for Sunday’s game at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs is set for 3.20 pm (AEST).