Sydney Swans gun Errol Gulden set to undergo surgery on dislocated shoulder, sidelined for four months
Updated . First published
The Sydney Swans have been dealt a brutal blow early in the season with confirmation that star midfielder Errol Gulden will be sidelined for four months with a shoulder injury.
The Swans smashed reigning premiers Brisbane 15.14 (104) to 8.12 (60) in a resounding victory at the SCG, but it came at a cost of significant injury concerns.
Swans stars Isaac Heeney and Gulden both left the field in the final quarter with what looked like serious concerns. The latter is now out of action for the bulk of the season.
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Gulden came from the field with 15 minutes to go in the contest clutching at his right elbow. The midfielder looked to have a shoulder problem after he hit the turf hard when he was tackled from behind.
Gulden was sent for scans on his shoulder on Monday where he was informed that he will have to undergo surgery later in the week.
The club expects he will be sidelined for the next four months due the injury.
Errol Gulden leaves the SCG with his arm protected. Getty
The decision will please Essendon great Matthew Llyod, who had warned that the risk to allow Gulden to play through a dislocated shoulder was not worth it.
"Once they pop out and they go back in, you're in serious trouble and so they've got a decision to make," Lloyd told Nine's The Sunday Footy Show.
"Josh Sinn at Port Adelaide, I heard during the week where it's happened so many times where it keeps popping in and out on him that they have decided to go in for surgery and he's out for four months.
"I think that would be the way to go (for Sydney). I know it's a big call to make to lose a gun for four months, but I would make the decision now.
"They need him ready to go for finals."
Moments after Gulden went down, Heeney pulled up lame and grabbed at his hamstring before heading to the bench.
Sideline eye Alastair Lynch reported that Heeney "was asked to stay on, [but] he refused and came off".
Isaac Heeney receives medical treatment. Fox Footy
"He's just grabbed his right upper hamstring," he said.
"He's being treated now by the physio. He wasn't overly happy when he sat down on the bench.
"I'd be very surprised if we saw Isaac Heeney back in this game."
No comment has been made by the club about Heeney's fitness.
Prized Brisbane recruit Oscar Allen also departed in the third quarter with a right hip injury, but returned to the match.
The departure of Heeney came with the Swans leading by 41 points and by full-time that margin was 44.
Sydney blitzed the Lions in the first quarter, with the score 7.1 (43) to 1.3 (9) at the break. That margin had extended to 48 by half-time.
The Lions added some respectability to the final quarters but no one had an answer to Joel Amartey, who kicked five goals.
Dayne Zorko (30) topped the disposal count for the match along with Lachie Neale and Riley Bice (28).
