Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett will miss this weekend’s AFL clash with Geelong as he continues to recover from his third concussion in five weeks.
Tippett will spend the weekend with his family in Queensland after having further tests later this week.
Coach Brenton Sanderson expected the Crows star will resume training next week and return for the round-19 match against Essendon, but said the club would take no chances.
“I’m sure we’re going to see him back really soon,” Sanderson said on Wednesday.
“Hopefully, that’s next week but we’ll make sure we make the right decision.
“We’re not going to force him to go back out and play.
“He’s got to be comfortable, the medical team’s got to be comfortable and, as coaches, we’ve got to be comfortable with selecting him, knowing he’s going to be OK.”
Tippett suffered another head injury in the second quarter of the Crows’ win over West Coast at AAMI stadium last weekend and was subbed out just after halftime.
It was his third concussion in just over a month and raised concerns over his long-term future.
But Sanderson said Tippett had already done some running this week and was feeling good.
He had also passed a series of concussion tests prescribed under AFL procedures.
“We hope that he comes back next week, jumping out of his skin and ready to play,” the coach said.
Adelaide will also be without Andy Otten for the next six weeks after he suffered a knee injury against the Eagles.
Otten tore the medial cartilage in his left knee and had an operation on Tuesday to repair the damage.
Club officials said it was the same knee Otten had previously had reconstructed but there was no issue with that earlier injury.
With Sanderson describing the road trip to play the Cats in Geelong as the toughest in the AFL, Adelaide will be glad to welcome back spearhead Taylor Walker for the match after his suspension for a sling tackle.