Carlton’s pivotal midfielder, Adam Cerra, experienced yet another setback in the form of a hamstring injury during the match against Melbourne on Thursday night. Despite this recurring issue, coach Michael Voss reassured that the latest injury is deemed “minor”.
Cerra was forced to leave the field during the third quarter of the Blues’ narrow one-point victory, marking his fourth hamstring injury since July of the previous year. His return to the field was short-lived, having only played two games after recovering from a midweek injury that sidelined him for Carlton’s round 5 defeat against Adelaide. This latest setback adds to a series of hamstring strains within the team, prompting scrutiny from the club’s leadership.
CEO Brian Cook acknowledged last week that the Blues thoroughly examined their conditioning program following the string of injuries affecting players like Cerra, Adam Saad, Mitch McGovern, and Jack Martin. However, Voss expressed uncertainty regarding whether Cerra’s latest injury affected the same hamstring as his previous ailment but remained unconcerned about its severity.
Describing the injury as a “slight” or “minor” hamstring issue, Voss indicated that further evaluation through scanning would provide clarity on its nature. In light of Cerra’s absence, George Hewett emerged as a viable replacement for the round 10 clash against Sydney.
Despite being relegated to the substitute role in the previous match despite a commendable performance, Voss attributed the decision to rotate midfielders throughout the demanding season. He highlighted the flexibility within the team, with players like Matt Kennedy stepping up in similar roles against Collingwood,
while George Hewett took his turn in the subsequent game. Voss emphasized the importance of distributing the workload among players over the course of the lengthy season, with small forwards also contributing to the collective effort.