Surgery ends season for another Port tall
Emerging Power star Dougal Howard will be out of action for a year after an operation on his wrecked knee, adding to a burgeoning injury list that has helped cruel Port Adelaide’s 2016 campaign.
Dougal Howard flies for a mark against the Bulldogs, a week before his season ended against Fremantle. Photo: Michael Errey, InDaily.
Howard damaged an anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s loss to Fremantle and underwent a knee reconstruction yesterday.
“It’s too early to say how long the rehab will actually take, but often it’s a return around the 12-month mark,” said Port high performance boss Darren Burgess.
“In terms of the surgery, it all went well for ‘Dougs’, unfortunately it’s a pretty long road recovering from ACL injuries… he’ll be spending the next month trying to keep the knee stable and rested and from there he’ll progress into a strength and mobility program.”
Dougal Howard leaves the field after rupturing his ACL. Photo: Tony McDonough, AAP.
Also out for the year with knee surgery is Brisbane midfielder Tom Bell, who missed the weekend’s loss to West Coast because of a medial meniscus tear and will undergo season-ending surgery on today.
Teammate Ryan Harwood could also be out of action for the rest of the year because of the strained posterior cruciate ligament he suffered against the Eagles.
Fellow Lions backman Tom Cutler has a hamstring injury and will sit out Saturday’s match against Richmond at the MCG.
-with AAP
