The bad injury news keeps coming for St Kilda forward Paddy McCartin, who remains in a moon boot and is likely to miss the rest of the AFL season.
Saints coach Alan Richardson has confirmed McCartin is taking longer than hoped to recover from a Lisfranc injury in his left foot suffered earlier this month.
Sidelined: Paddy McCartin.
Photo: AAP
Richardson says the Saints will take no risks with the 2014 No.1 draft pick, whose 13 games this season are the most he has managed in his career.
"We're not going to rush him back and potentially risk injury given that we're not playing finals," Richardson said on Thursday.
"These remaining games, they're really important to us. They're great opportunities for our team and for our club, and for the individuals within it, but we won't take a risk if we think there's any chance for further damage that would compromise his pre-season."
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McCartin's first few seasons were heavily disrupted by ongoing concussion struggles, which left him fearing his career might be over.
The 22-year-old had been tracking well this season until he hurt his foot.
"He's still in the boot. We were hoping that he might be out of that by now, but it's not far off what the doctors thought," Richardson said.
"It'll then depend on how he responds once he's putting complete weight on it."
The Saints will also be without backman Jimmy Webster (groin) Friday night's clash with ladder-leader Richmond at Etihad Stadium.
Star midfielder Seb Ross will return after missing last week's win over Carlton with a stomach bug while Blake Acres is also in the selection mix.
The Tigers will start strong favourites in the third annual Maddie's Match to raise awareness of bone marrow failure syndrome.
Maddie Riewoldt, the younger sister of Saints great Nick and cousin of Richmond forward Jack, died in 2015 aged 26.
"It's a big night for our footy club given the significance of the day … and what that means to people that are close to us here (like) Nick and his family," Richardson said.
"Our players want to do our people proud."
AAP
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