SCANS have revealed that 2010 Club Champion Kieren Jack has suffered an ankle injury which is likely to keep him off the field for four to six weeks.
Jack was hurt early in the second term and while he played out the rest of the game against Carlton on Friday night, he was clearly hampered and in pain.
Jack stayed up all night on Friday icing the injury and went for an MRI scan this morning which revealed he has ligament damage to his right ankle.
The injury, termed syndesmosis, has affected the ligaments that run between the tibia and fibula bones at the top of the ankle, holding the bones stable.
Jack said he was extremely disappointed to hear he would not be playing for the next few weeks.
“It will be the first time I’ve missed a game since 2008 and I hate not being out there with the boys,’’ Jack said.
“I’ll be doing everything in my power to get back on the field as quickly as possible.
“At the moment it doesn’t feel too bad but I know I have a bit of a tough road ahead to make sure I get this injury healed.
“Bulldog (Jarred Moore) had the same injury last year and he’s given me a few tips - and I want to make sure I recover more quickly than him!’’
The injury happened when another player fell across Jack’s leg.
Swans physiotherapist Matt Cameron said the injury was different to a rolled ankle, affecting ligaments at the front of the ankle, not the side.
“With this injury, the ligaments need to fully heal before Kieren will be able to play,’’ Cameron said.
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire said that the loss of Jack will hurt the balance of the team, but was confident he would be back for the Swans in the near future.
“It’s obviously disappointing for Kieren and the team, but we make sure we can get someone in who can replace him,” Longmire said.
“He is such an important player and I think he was starting to get into to some really good form. His first quarter on the weekend on Judd was excellent.
“The medical boys are telling me it’s a four to six week injury, Kieren’s confident it will be quicker than that - so I’m backing Kieren in,” he said.
