Border Mail – Round 17 – Preview
BROCK-Burrum defender Luke Brauer has been rocked by a serious Achilles tendon injury.
“It’s not great news,” Brauer said.
“I’ve had ongoing issues for probably four years now.
“I had two games off before Howlong and I was just running and went to change direction and the noise was like a bubble wrap crackle.
“I thought someone had kicked my foot from behind me.
“I wasn’t in any crazy pain, my leg just went numb.”
While Brauer said he was devastated to miss the rest of the season, he remains excited about Brock-Burrum’s prospects leading into another September campaign.
The Saints are second on the ladder behind Henty and look well placed to make amends for last year’s sudden exit at Walbundrie.
“I’m trying to find positives at the moment,” he said.
“It’s disappointing from a personal point of view, but the boys are going well and hopefully we can go deep into September.
“Maybe things happen for a reason because Chris Boulton came out of semi-retirement earlier in the year and has been doing well in a back-pocket where I had been playing for the past two seasons.
“I’ve had a good run.”
Brauer joined Brock-Burrum in 2014 and co-coached the Saints to flags with Luke Schilg and Jarrod Hillary in 2015 and 2016.
The former Lavington player said he had been blown away by the support of the Brock-Burrum community.
“The amount of support I’ve had from the club is incredible with all the messages and phone calls,” he said.
“Blokes on the committee have been ringing up offering to take days off work to do some labouring for me because I can’t drive or walk at the moment.
“Another person rocked up with a load of fire wood.
“Stuff like that makes you realise what a great culture the club has.”
Brock-Burrum president Steve Koschitzke said Brauer achieved the rare double of being a premiership coach and best clubman in 2015.
“He’s been fantastic,” he said.
“You talk about great recruits and in my time Taki Griparis and Luke Brauer have been sensational for the footy club on and off the ground.”
CULCAIRN has re-signed coach Josh Hillary and a host of leading players for next season.
The trio have been outstanding since crossing from Kiewa-Sandy Creek in 2016 and look set to dominate the club’s best and fairest.
Adam Eady, Dennis Pedemont and Ben Gould are among others to be locked away.
Culcairn can stitch up sixth position on the ladder by defeating Rand-Walbundrie-Walla at Culcairn on Saturday.
After only one year at the helm, the pair have notified the club they will be standing down after round 18.
The Magpies are anchored to the bottom of the ladder and must defeat Jindera or Culcairn in the final two rounds to avoid the wooden spoon.
“It’s been a tough year,” Packer said.
“We were competitive in the first half of the season but it’s been a battle with unavailability and injuries knocking us around.”
The Magpies injury toll reached crisis point earlier this month when they finished with 15 players on the ground against Brock-Burrum.
Key players Michael Sims, Hayden Edwards, Thompson and Tom Osmotherly are on the injured list.
Packer and Thompson took over from Josh Maher this season.
Murray Magpies and Jindera are officially in the market for new coaches while CDHBU, Billabong Crows, Lockhart and Osborne are yet to confirm their appointments for next season.
Kade Stevens (Brock-Burrum), Joel Price (Henty), Beau Packer (Howlong), Myles Aalbers (Rand-Walbundrie-Walla) and Matt Sharp (Holbrook), Josh Hillary (Culcairn) have been re-appointed.
