Leitchville-Gunbower will be without number one ruckman Michael Pilcher for the HDFNL grand final.
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Pilcher suffered a corked thigh in the first quarter of Saturday’s second semi-final win over North Bendigo at Lockington.
The injury worsened over the weekend and the ruckman was diagnosed with compartment syndrome and was rushed to hospital in Melbourne on Sunday night for surgery.
“He had emergency surgery to release the pressure,’’ Leitchville-Gunbower coach Matt Hawken said of Pilcher.
“He did everything right on Saturday night and was waking up every two hours to ice the injury and had an ice bath.
“On Sunday there was a noticeable increase in swelling and it became painful, so he got nervous and went into the hospital.
“He was taken to hospital in Melbourne, where he had surgery and now has a nice big scar from his knee up to his hip.
“He’ll have further surgery midweek and he’ll be in hospital for a week or two.
“He’s in good spirits and as well as you can be in these circumstances. Hopefully, they’ve sorted it all out because the main thing is his health.”
Pilcher is in his first season with the Bombers after being recruited from BFNL power Strathfieldsaye.
Hawken said the ruckman had made a big impression with his new club.
“Even on Saturday Pilch was excellent for us early and he had a target on him because he was so influential,’’ Hawken said.
“He got nailed… and we were left without a ruckman.
“Lee Pollock (back spasm) missed the game on Saturday, but he’ll come back in the mix for the grand final.
“It’s disappointing for Pilch because he’ll not only miss the grand final, but he’ll miss a couple of weeks of work, maybe more.”
Pilcher and Pollock’s absence in the second semi-final left the Bombers without a recognised ruckman.
“North had a massive advantage in the last quarter and we struggled to stem the flow,’’ Hawken said.
“We showed incredible resilience to fight back from being headed in the last quarter and then kick the final two goals to win.
“That resilience has been our mantra all year. When someone goes down the next player steps up.
“We’d hoped to have a full list available for the grand final, but that won’t be the case.”
Hawken said classy forward Jack Dye was a “five per cent” chance to play in the grand final after he suffered a broken collarbone late in the second semi-final.
“He got picked off pretty well, so we certainly didn’t get through unscathed,’’ Hawken said.
“It’s highly unlikely for Jack that he’ll be fit for the grand final. He missed last year’s grand final because he had injuries late in the year and couldn’t get back in.
“To have our ruckman and centre half-forward out injured for the grand final is not ideal, but this group is resilient and we’ll find a way to cover them.”