Sydney Swans key forward Joel Amartey will be sidelined for at least 10 weeks after suffering a partial tear in his Achilles tendon, dealing a significant blow to the club's premiership aspirations with just eight home-and-away rounds remaining.
Amartey's Injury Occurred Against Brisbane
The 26-year-old injured his Achilles during Sydney's 43-point loss to Brisbane at the Gabba. Despite attempting to play through the pain, he managed only three disposals, two marks, and two behinds before being substituted out in the final quarter.
This setback is particularly tough for Amartey, who has battled numerous soft tissue injuries since joining the Swans in 2017. He had played in all 15 games this season, contributing 23 goals.
Impact on Sydney's Finals Campaign
Sydney currently sits second on the ladder with a 12-3 record, ahead of their round-17 clash against the Western Bulldogs (9-6). If Amartey's recovery follows the 10-week timeline and Sydney finishes in second place, he would miss the qualifying final following the new wildcard round.
West Coast's Edwards Faces Concussion Recovery
In separate news, West Coast Eagles defender Harry Edwards will undergo a three-month specialist rehabilitation program after suffering three concussions this year. The 25-year-old has played only two AFL games in 2024, with concussions occurring in a pre-season match against Port Adelaide, round two against North Melbourne, and round nine against Melbourne.
Edwards recently appeared before the AFL concussion panel, which assessed his condition. Eagles football boss Gavin Bell stated: “Harry has maintained a positive mindset whilst in the concussion protocols. And he will undertake the specialist rehabilitation program with the intention of playing AFL next season.”
