FORMER Kerang footballer, Jaden McGrath will push for selection in Brisbane’s opening round AFL team, despite sustaining a shoulder injury last weekend.
The 19-year-old suffered a left shoulder sprain during the first quarter of Sunday’s NAB Challenge match against Greater Western Sydney at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium.
Lions personnel initially feared McGrath had fractured the shoulder, but scans revealed a sprain of the sternoclavicular joint.
It was McGrath’s second game of the pre-season competition, having successfully completed rehabilitation from a foot injury that sidelined him for the majority of his debut season for the Lions.
“Six minutes into the first quarter the first contest occurred, the ball spilled out of a contest, and I think it was Toby Greene who was involved,” McGrath said.
Although diagnosed as a two to five-week injury, the former Kerang and Bendigo Pioneers player is confident this weekend’s break will enable him to be in contention for the club’s opening round match against West Coast at Perth’s Domain Stadium on March 27.
“The club played all of the young blokes during the opening round match against the Gold Coast, and our strongest sides were selected for the round two game against St Kilda (which was called off due to torrential rain and poor ground conditions) and at the weekend,” he said.
“It would have been good to have played the Saints in the rain.”
Although all players were given time off until Wednesday, the Lions allowed McGrath to travel to Kerang for a break.
“I spent time catching up with family and friends, and I spent Tuesday fishing,” he said.
“It has been good to get back here.”
