St Kilda skipper Jack Steele will have surgery on Monday to fix a fractured collarbone that is expected to keep him out for the next four weeks.
The 27-year-old played out the match after picking up the injury – a big effort as he led the Saints to an upset win over the Western Bulldogs – but he will be sorely missed in the next month.
However, the Saints have overcome a long injury list in the first two rounds with strong wins over Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs in an outstanding start to Ross Lyon’s return as senior coach.
A fractured collarbone will keep Jack Steele out for a monthCredit:Getty
It was a brave performance from Steele, who left the ground in the third quarter, but his injury means he will miss Saturday night’s blockbuster against Essendon; the game billed as the centrepiece of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
Football manager David Misson said Steele’s leadership was evident when he played out the game.
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“Jack’s as courageous as they come, and to play out the game with a broken collarbone was a fantastic effort,” Misson said.
“We’re looking at a four-week recovery window for Jack.
“As we’ve seen with our playing list so far this season, while injuries aren’t ideal, all we can control is our response. I’m sure another player will step up in Jack’s absence and seize the opportunity to contribute to the team.
