MELBOURNE will be forced to make at least one change to its side for its elimination showdown with Geelong, with forward Dean Kent ruled out for the do-or-die clash with an AC joint shoulder injury.
Remarkably, Dom Tyson – despite having surgery to repair a crack in the ulna bone in his arm on Sunday – may be available for the club's crunch game against the Cats, according to elite performance manager Dave Misson.
Kent suffered the injury to his right shoulder after coming off second-best in a ground level contest with Giant Lachie Whitfield as the pair battled for a loose ball in the first quarter on Sunday.
MEGA-PREVIEW First elimination final, Melbourne v Geelong
"It's a pretty solid AC joint injury. He's probably a little bit better than what we thought he would be when he came into injury clinic on Monday," Misson told melbournefc.com.au.
"He's still going to need 2-3 weeks but we'll just be assessing him as we go.
"He won't need surgery at this stage and we'll treat that and manage that conservatively but it's a little bit about how long his pain takes to settle and when we can get him going again."
Misson said Tyson had sustained a 'nightstick' fracture when he copped an accidental kick to his forearm from teammate Max Gawn in the second quarter of Sunday's game.
Tyson is set to have a light run around during the Demons' training session on Saturday before ramping things up and trying to prove his fitness in next Tuesday's session.
"Dom's got what's called a 'nightstick' injury. Back in the old days when police would use the nightstick (a baton), people would put their arms up to protect themselves," Misson said.
"He's just got a crack on his ulna. As has been reported he had an operation to have a plate inserted on Sunday night and he's pulled up really well.
"Again, it's going to be how it tracks day to day. It's a little bit about pain management and functionality but we think Dom's going to have a run and a bit of a kick on Saturday and we'd hope he'll do most training next Tuesday and potentially be available for that game."
Misson said the club was hopeful of having Mitch Hannan available for the game against the Cats after the forward was a late withdrawal from Sunday's game against the Giants.
"Mitch has got a little bit of knee soreness. We're hoping we'll get him back to doing some training this week and he's a chance next week," Misson said.
Defensive pair Jayden Hunt (ankle) and Joel Smith (collarbone) are set to play in the Casey Demons' VFL qualifying final against Geelong at Casey Fields on Saturday.
Co-captain Jack Viney will not suit up for the club's VFL team, instead putting all his energies into getting up for the AFL final following a long-term foot injury.
"He'll train with the boys on Saturday morning and train normally next week with a view of playing on Friday night," Viney said.
Veteran defender Bernie Vince (shoulder) is listed as 3-4 weeks away from a return.
