ST KILDA has taken a cautionary road with Jack Billings, today ruling him out for the rest of the season due to a stress fracture in his shin.
The left-footer, who will turn 20 in three weeks, has played nine senior games this year after missing round one with a hamstring strain.
Yesterday’s scan revealed a fracture line in his left shin which although not requiring surgery like Josh Bruce last year, will still rule him out for the remainder of the season.
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Head Physiotherapist Andrew Wallis is certain the 2013 number three draft pick will be fully fit well before St Kilda’s pre-season training starts.
“Jack was due to hopefully play the last couple of rounds but further scans have showed that his stress response has progressed more to a fracture line,” Wallis told SAINTS.com.au.
“We see that as giving him the best chance to come back and have a full pre-season and get ready for next year.”
Although disappointed, Billings said he understands the cautious approach the club is taking and is looking forward to getting back in to running in 6-8 weeks.
“I’m obviously frustrated that my injury hasn’t healed as I hoped it would,” Billings told SAINTS.com.au.
“However it’s important that I get it right now so it doesn’t plague me in the long-term. I’ll work hard with the medical staff in my rehab and look forward to getting back into full training later in the year.”
UPDATED: Injury list
In other injury news, Nick Riewoldt sustained a corked calf on Sunday which will not affect his availability for round 18, while Jimmy Webster is also fine following a knock to the ribs sustained in a courageous attempt to spoil a marking contest.
Tom Curren is two months away from returning from a broken fibula and began swimming last week and St Kilda has not drawn a line through his 2015 campaign.
“We’re hoping to get Tom back for potentially finals for our VFL affiliate Sandringham,” Wallis said.
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Sandringham is currently third on the VFL ladder with five weeks remaining in the home and away season.
