Eastlake midfielder Jarrod Osborne will miss Saturday's clash with Belconnen, and is staring at a month on the sidelines with a broken hand.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Scans earlier this week confirmed the former NEAFL star cracked a bone in his hand in last weekend's dour win over Ainslie, leaving Demons coach John Harper short-handed for this weekend's daunting away trip to the Magpie Nest.
Harper is now missing almost half of the team that lost last year's grand final to Queanbeyan, due to a combination of injury and offseason player movement.
"We've lost close to nine to 10 blokes from our grand final side," Harper said.
"A lot of boys decided they wanted to have a go at country footy.
"He [Osborne] cracked a bone in his hand so he's out for four to five weeks, and didn't realise it til probably after the game.
"That's a bit of a loss for us because he's a class player, and he's a ripper young lad."
The Demons are also without injured duo Cam Bokenham and Josh Dowse this weekend after both went down against the Tricolours last weekend.
In better news for Harper, young guns Alex Smout and Billy Clark return, after playing for the GWS Giants VFL side which has a bye this round.
Belconnen is at home for a second week in a row, and will look to build off last weekend's 220-point thrashing of the Gungahlin Jets.
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
"They kicked pretty well last week, and not to knock Gungahlin down or anything but they still got the score on the board," Harper said.
"We're expecting a pretty tough contest. We'll bring hopefully our best effort, and give them a game at the Nest.
"What happens on the day happens on the day, we're expecting a torrid contest and we're hoping we can get the four points.
"They [Smout and Clark] are available to play with us tomorrow, they're actually back in the side because the Giants have got a bye and both of them have played at a high level the last couple of weeks and have held their spots in the Giants VFL side."
MEANWHILE, Rob Goddard and the Belconnen Magpies History Committee will launch a book before the Eastlake clash on Saturday commemorating the club's 50th year.
AFL CANBERRA ROUND TWO
Queanbeyan Tigers v Ainslie Tricolours at Aulich Park - Men's 12.55pm, women's 3.20pm
Belconnen Magpies v Eastlake Demons at Adero Law Nest - Men's 1.15pm, women's 11.20am
Tuggeranong Valley v Gungahlin Jets at Greenway - Men's 1.15pm, women's 3.45pm
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
