Tasmania Devils coach Jeromey Webberley has confirmed ruckman Aiden Begg will miss the rest of the season with a kidney injury, dealing a blow to the club’s finals hopes.
Begg suffered the injury during the Devils’ win over GWS last Sunday, initially appearing to have escaped serious damage.
Webberley said an initial scan was encouraging but a second revealed the extent of the problem.
“We just missed it on the first scan,” he said.
“There was a little bit of blood in his urine sample that got tested on Monday, with all signs and indications from the scan and his presentation that he was going to be okay.”
A follow-up scan revealed a grade two tear and a small laceration to his kidney.
Webberley said the loss was significant but the squad would adapt.
“You don’t replace his skill set, like that’s just the stark reality,” he said.
“But we understand that we’ve got a squad that understand how we want to play.”
Cameron Owen and Caleb Mitchell are both expected to be available for the qualifying final against Geelong.
Webberley said the Devils are using their bye week to give players a mental and physical reset after a demanding first VFL season that included two trips to Sydney in three weeks.
The team would train within their home regions before coming together as a full squad on Friday.
Asked about reports of AFL coaching interest after guiding the Devils to a top four spot in their first season, Webberley said he had not received any contact.
“That’s news to me,” he said.
“I’ve said before publicly that I’m an aspirational coach, I’d love to stay within Tasmania and continue to progress my coaching, but clearly to get into an AFL system is something that I’m incredibly keen to do.”
He said his priority was preparing the Devils for finals and being part of the Tasmanian AFL club build.
The Devils will travel to face minor premier Geelong in the qualifying final.
