Harrison Jones shared a promising update after a terrifying ankle injury that saw him stretchered off during Essendon’s nail-biting three-point win over North Melbourne on Thursday night.
The 24-year-old forward was left in visible distress near the boundary line at Marvel Stadium after an awkward landing while contesting a mark. His left ankle twisted grotesquely, drawing gasps from players and fans alike. Trainers rushed to his aid, but he had to wait until the final seconds of the third quarter to be taken off the ground.
Despite the frightening nature of the incident, Jones confirmed on Friday that scans had ruled out any major fractures.
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“I’m OK. Had two X-rays last night, no major breaks. It’s a lot better than it could have been,” Jones told 7NEWS.
“I think I was in shock to be honest. I sort of looked down and saw my foot was the other way... I just sort of sat there... it all happened pretty quick.”
Stretcher delay draws criticism
The response time to the injury came under scrutiny, with play continuing for several moments even after the stretcher was called. FOX Footy commentator David King didn’t mince words, calling the delay “an error” and “bizarre”. Fellow caller Mark Howard added that it was “unusual to see play restart after we heard ‘stop, we need the stretcher’.”
Coach Brad Scott, however, praised the umpires’ communication and saw a silver lining in the additional time it gave the Bombers to make critical changes. “It was actually pretty handy for us as we needed to make some pretty significant adjustments,” he said.
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Jones’ injury was part of a grim night for Essendon, with Jordan Ridley (hamstring) and Jade Gresham (adductor) also picking up knocks. Still, with no breaks confirmed, the young forward's dislocated ankle may represent the best-case scenario in a worst-case moment.