TonyK
CibbuanoJohnson out of NAB Cup GF
March 10th 2010 02:21
WESTERN BULLDOGS skipper Brad Johnson has been ruled out of Saturday night's NAB Cup Grand Final against St Kilda due to a calf injury.
The 33-year-old hasn't played during the pre-season after suffering a knock to the muscle in January which caused referred bleeding into an Achilles tendon.
Johnson was in the selection frame for the clash with the Saints but experienced tightness in his calf after training on Tuesday.
"There was no real pain with it but he was always going to be touch and go as to whether he would play or not but we are going to err on the side of caution," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.
"Not playing this week means he probably won't play in Round 1 either but it's a long year and we want to do the right thing by him."
"He understands that too. We'll give him a lot of conditioning over the next few weeks and hope he's back round two, maybe round three."
Eade said Johnson could have a short stint in the VFL in a bid to build some match fitness before returning to the senior side.
In Johnson's absence, Daniel Giansiracusa will captain the Western Bulldogs against the St Kilda.
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