TonyK
CibbuanoSaints yet to get approval from AFL
May 27th 2008 02:09
ST KILDA's application to have full-forward Fraser Gehrig placed on their long-term injury list is yet to be approved by the AFL.
Gehrig, who has an arthritic condition affecting both hands, was to be placed on the injury list, which would rule him out for at least eight matches.
Under AFL rules, a player placed on the injury list is allowed to be replaced on the senior list by a rookie but traditionally the injured player has been physically unable to take the field and would be unlikely to do so for some time.
Gehrig last played against Collingwood in round eight, and was not injured in the match.
AFL football administration manager Rod Austin received calls of complaint last week, with at least one club making the case that it would now be possible to promote a rookie for an out-of-form player with a mild ailment rather than a seriously injured one.
Austin said the application would be examined by AFL medical commissioners, Drs Harry Unglik and Peter Harcourt over the next 24 hours.
St Kilda football manager Matthew Drain admitted that the 32-year-old is capable of playing but also said that Gehrig's ageing body needed a break from the game.
"He could run out on the ground. We acknowledge that," Drain said.
"But there is also a significant amount of supporting medical evidence, going back four and five years, that says he needs a break from the game.
"But at the end of the day, the approval rests with the AFL medical officers and we understand that."
Drain said that his letter of explanation stated that the club was "highly unlikely" to promote a rookie to replace Gehrig.
Gehrig, who has an arthritic condition affecting both hands, was to be placed on the injury list, which would rule him out for at least eight matches.
Under AFL rules, a player placed on the injury list is allowed to be replaced on the senior list by a rookie but traditionally the injured player has been physically unable to take the field and would be unlikely to do so for some time.
Gehrig last played against Collingwood in round eight, and was not injured in the match.
AFL football administration manager Rod Austin received calls of complaint last week, with at least one club making the case that it would now be possible to promote a rookie for an out-of-form player with a mild ailment rather than a seriously injured one.
Austin said the application would be examined by AFL medical commissioners, Drs Harry Unglik and Peter Harcourt over the next 24 hours.
St Kilda football manager Matthew Drain admitted that the 32-year-old is capable of playing but also said that Gehrig's ageing body needed a break from the game.
"He could run out on the ground. We acknowledge that," Drain said.
"But there is also a significant amount of supporting medical evidence, going back four and five years, that says he needs a break from the game.
"But at the end of the day, the approval rests with the AFL medical officers and we understand that."
Drain said that his letter of explanation stated that the club was "highly unlikely" to promote a rookie to replace Gehrig.
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