{"id":605843,"date":"2026-04-14T08:15:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/605843\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T08:15:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:15:09","slug":"injury-report-demon-duo-sidelined","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/605843\/","title":{"rendered":"Injury Report | Demon duo sidelined"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n Injury Update\n <\/p>\n

\n Check out Melbourne\u2019s latest injury news\n <\/p>\n

CHRISTIAN Salem and Jake Melksham have been sidelined after the duo sustained injuries during last Saturday\u2019s match against Essendon.<\/p>\n

Salem was removed from the game following an incident involving his foot, with the club\u2019s AFL High Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith providing an update on the defender. <\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, scans have revealed that he sustained a small fracture in his foot,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t require surgery and will progress conservatively. Once pain and function improve, we\u2019ll begin to progress him through his return to play program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Melksham played out the remainder of the Round 5 match, but scans have unfortunately confirmed that the forward has suffered a syndesmosis injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis injury doesn\u2019t require surgery which is positive, and we\u2019ll aim to progress him as his pain and function allows through a conservative management process,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

Trent Rivers continues to manage a knee concern and will remain on the sidelines over the next fortnight.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrent has been dealing with ongoing knee soreness,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve continued to work with him to ensure that he can get back to the brand of football that we all love to see from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, after the match simulation on the weekend, he\u2019s pulled up with soreness, which means we\u2019ll now focus on reconditioning his strength and power over the next two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Changkuoth Jiath is nearing a return to football after missing the last two weeks with a calf strain. <\/p>\n

\u201cCJ has progressed well through his calf injury and will return to team skills this week, with the goal for him to be available to play next week,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

In positive news for Jake Bowey, the Demon is putting the final touches on his rehab of a Lisfranc injury sustained during pre-season. <\/p>\n

\u201cJake has been progressing really well over the past few weeks and will integrate into team skills this week,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll assess his return over the next two weeks.\u201d <\/p>\n

Young Demon Paddy Cross will also be looking at a return over the next few weeks as he progresses through a thumb injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaddy has returned to skill work following his thumb surgery,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe will progress through main group skills and contact training as pain and function allowed with his availability to be accessed next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shane McAdam (Achilles), Tom Campbell (neck) and Jack Viney (Achilles) all continue to work through their respective rehab programs.<\/p>\n

Calf<\/p>\n

1 – 2 weeks<\/p>\n

\n \u201cCJ has progressed well through his calf injury and will return to team skills this week, with the goal for him to be available to play next week,\u201d Griffith said.\n <\/p>\n

Thumb<\/p>\n

2 – 3 weeks<\/p>\n

\n \u201cPaddy has returned to skill work following his thumb surgery,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe will progress through main group skills and contact training as pain and function allows with his availability to be accessed next week.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

Foot<\/p>\n

2 – 3 weeks<\/p>\n

\n \u201cJake has been progressing really well over the past few weeks and will integrate into team skills this week,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll assess his return over the next two weeks.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

Achilles<\/p>\n

2 – 3 weeks<\/p>\n

\n \u201cShane continues to work hard recovering from that Achilles rupture,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just looking to build his training integration and high intensity running before we see him return to play in the coming weeks.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Ankle<\/p>\n

3 – 4 weeks<\/p>\n

\n \u201cHis injury doesn\u2019t require surgery which is positive, and we\u2019ll aim to progress him as his pain and function allows through a conservative management process,\u201d Griffith said.\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Foot<\/p>\n

4 – 6 weeks<\/p>\n

\n \u201cUnfortunately, scans have revealed that he sustained a small fracture in his foot,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t require surgery and will progress conservatively. Once pain and function improve, we\u2019ll begin to progress him through his return to play program.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Knee<\/p>\n

TBC<\/p>\n

\n \u201cTrent has been dealing with ongoing knee soreness,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve continued to work with him to ensure that he can get back to the brand of football that we all love to see from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, after the match simulation on the weekend, he\u2019s pulled up with soreness, which means we\u2019ll now focus on reconditioning his strength and power over the next two weeks.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

Neck<\/p>\n

TBC<\/p>\n

\n \u201cTom was involved in an innocuous collision at training and has suffered a neck injury,\u201d Richardson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s torn a ligament and will remain in a neck brace for the next month. He\u2019ll see a neurosurgeon this week to determine the path forward for him.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

Achilles<\/p>\n

TBC<\/p>\n

\n \u201cJack has progressed to light running duties as we continue to build his calf and Achillies strength.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"14.<\/p>\n

14. Changkuoth Jiath<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cCJ has progressed well through his calf injury and will return to team skills this week, with the goal for him to be available to play next week,\u201d Griffith said.\n <\/p>\n

\n Injury: Calf\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: 1 – 2 weeks\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"41.<\/p>\n

41. Patrick Cross<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cPaddy has returned to skill work following his thumb surgery,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe will progress through main group skills and contact training as pain and function allows with his availability to be accessed next week.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Injury: Thumb\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: 2 – 3 weeks\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"17.<\/p>\n

17. Jake Bowey<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cJake has been progressing really well over the past few weeks and will integrate into team skills this week,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll assess his return over the next two weeks.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Injury: Foot\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: 2 – 3 weeks\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"23.<\/p>\n

23. Shane McAdam<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cShane continues to work hard recovering from that Achilles rupture,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just looking to build his training integration and high intensity running before we see him return to play in the coming weeks.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\n Injury: Achilles\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: 2 – 3 weeks\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"18.<\/p>\n

18. Jake Melksham<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cHis injury doesn\u2019t require surgery which is positive, and we\u2019ll aim to progress him as his pain and function allows through a conservative management process,\u201d Griffith said.\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\n Injury: Ankle\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: 3 – 4 weeks\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"3.<\/p>\n

3. Christian Salem<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cUnfortunately, scans have revealed that he sustained a small fracture in his foot,\u201d Griffith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t require surgery and will progress conservatively. Once pain and function improve, we\u2019ll begin to progress him through his return to play program.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\n Injury: Foot\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: 4 – 6 weeks\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"24.<\/p>\n

24. Trent Rivers<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cTrent has been dealing with ongoing knee soreness,\u201d Griffith said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve continued to work with him to ensure that he can get back to the brand of football that we all love to see from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, after the match simulation on the weekend, he\u2019s pulled up with soreness, which means we\u2019ll now focus on reconditioning his strength and power over the next two weeks.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Injury: Knee\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: TBC\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"29.<\/p>\n

29. Tom Campbell<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cTom was involved in an innocuous collision at training and has suffered a neck injury,\u201d Richardson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s torn a ligament and will remain in a neck brace for the next month. He\u2019ll see a neurosurgeon this week to determine the path forward for him.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Injury: Neck\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: TBC\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"7.<\/p>\n

7. Jack Viney<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \u201cJack has progressed to light running duties as we continue to build his calf and Achillies strength.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read Article
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\n Injury: Achilles\n <\/p>\n

\n Est. Return: TBC\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Injury Update Check out Melbourne\u2019s latest injury news CHRISTIAN Salem and Jake Melksham have been sidelined after the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":605844,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,83,41,39,42,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-605843","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-text","11":"tag-top-news","12":"tag-top-stories","13":"tag-topnews","14":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=605843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/605843\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/605844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=605843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=605843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=605843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}