ALIPATE CARLILE won’t require surgery to his knee after scans revealed better news than expected following his injury on Saturday.
Carlile went down in the first quarter of Port Adelaide’s loss to Glenelg at Alberton with fears of a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament potentially sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
But Port Adelaide is hopeful the key backman will return to play before the end of the year.
“It’s actually pretty good news,” Port's head of high performance Darren Burgess told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“It’s a partial tear of the PCL and the medial ligament, so he doesn’t need surgery.
“We reckon he’s looking at a 10-12 week rehab, off legs for a month, so we’re hopeful we’ll see him back by the end of the season.”
Carlile had played three SANFL games since recovering from a wrist injury suffered earlier in the season.
A ten-week recovery would have him in line to be playing football around Round 22.
Port Adelaide injury list as of Tuesday 7 June
AFL
Alipate Carlile – knee (10-12 weeks)
Cameron Hewett – finger (available)
Aidyn Johnson – hamstring (available)
Jimmy Toumpas – ankle (assess)
Jack Hombsch – hamstring (2-3 weeks)
Matthew Lobbe – knee (6-8 weeks)
Jay Schulz – back (2-4 weeks)
Will Snelling – foot (indefinite)
Long term injury list
Matt White – pectoral (4-5 weeks)
SANFL contract list
Robbie Young – collarbone (TBC)
