Knee blow for Dahlhaus

Geelong Falcon Jay Dahlhaus is stretchered from Mars Stadium during last week’s loss to the GWV Rebels. (Geelong Falcons Image/Brian Bartlett)

GEELONG Falcon Jay Dahlhaus looks set to miss the remainder of the NAB League season after suffering a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament during last week’s loss to the GWV Rebels.

Dahlhaus, who is part of the Falcons’ leadership group, underwent scans earlier this week which confirmed the damage.

“It’s disappointing for Jay. He’s had a fantastic summer and his first two games have been excellent for him,” coach Luke Daffy.

“Unfortunately, injuries are a part of footy, and for Jay it’s happened when he probably least wanted it to happen.

“But, he’s been super resilient about it, and he’s looking at the positives moving forward.

“And we’ll support him as a club, and he’ll have a role for us around the group.”

The injury happened after Dahlhaus, the cousin of current Cat Luke, had a Rebels player fall across his leg after kicking a goal during the third quarter of Sunday’s clash at Mars Stadium.

“The contact stretched it (the knee) a little bit and he was in a bit of pain straight away, which was not great for him,” Daffy said.

“He’ll see a surgeon next week to get an assessment about what’s the best way moving forward.

“It looks like it’s a long-term injury, so we probably won’t see Jay playing again this season unless things come along towards the end.”

If Dahlhaus was unable to return, the Falcons would explore retaining the St Mary’s product as a 19-year-old in 2020.

“We’d like to think AFL Victoria would support that,” Daffy said.

“And we’d be pretty confident they would. The way the guidelines go around that is for players to get an opportunity through long-term injuries or players new to the program.

“I think Jay would fit that criteria really well and something for him to look forward during his rehab.”

The Falcons will make at least four changes for Sunday’s clash with the unbeaten Dandenong Stingrays,

Sam Christensen accepted a one-week suspension for rough conduct against the Rebels, while Clay Page and Will Batson have also gone out of the team beaten by the Rebels.

Charlie Ham, the younger brother of Essendon draftee Brayden and current Falcon Sheldon, Jack Grigsby, Jack Mullen, Blake Reid, Blake Ritchie and Jackson Paatsch have been added to the Falcons squad.

Twitter: @tom_king79

NAB LEAGUE BOYS ROUND 3

DANDENONG STINGRAYS (4th) vs. GEELONG FALCONS (15th)

Queen Elizabeth Oval – Bendigo

Sunday, April 7, 12:30 pm