Swans anxious over scans on Gulden's ankle injury
Sydney could become the latest AFL club to lose a star player for the start of the season after Errol Gulden was sent to hospital for scans on an ankle injury.
There was speculation the dual All Australian suffered a syndesmosis injury, potentially sidelining him for several weeks, in the Swans' Friday night pre-season win over the Suns on the Gold Coast.
Gulden's ankle was caught under him and twisted awkwardly when he was tackled early in the game. He was in agony and needed two trainers to help him from the ground.
Errol Gulden has been helped off the ground after this incident.#AFLSunsSwans pic.twitter.com/2T9n9h6spe
— AFL (@AFL) February 28, 2025
It was a night of injury carnage, with Suns players Mac Andrew (sternum), Charlie Ballard (ankle), David Swallow (knee) and Lachie Weller (hamstring) also taken out of the game.
"Obviously when a player comes off like that, your concerns are heightened," Swans assistant coach Mark McVeigh said of Gulden.
"It didn't look good, but we have to wait on the scan results."
Earlier on Friday, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (calf) and star Port Adelaide midfielder Zack Butters (knee surgery) were confirmed as being out of action for at least six weeks.
There has been plenty of talk about whether the pre-season schedule has contributed to more injuries than usual.
The season will start next Thursday night when reigning premiers Brisbane host Geelong at the Gabba, while Sydney play Hawthorn the following evening at the SCG.
Suns coach Damien Hardwick said the structure of pre-season games needs more work
The Swans capped off their pre-season with a win, but it came at a cost with Errol Gulden suffering an ankle injury.#AFLSunsSwans https://t.co/wYdm9lfWZf
— AFL (@AFL) February 28, 2025
"We have to get a a bit better and it's hard, because round zero comes in and then some sides have two weeks off," Hardwick told Fox Footy after the Sydney game.
"We need to put our heads together and figure out what we can do, and get a little bit tighter.
"Sydney can't get home tonight and they play next Friday, they're stuck here.
"We just have to get this scheduling better. They have one job, the AFL, let's get it sorted out."
But McVeigh said Sydney were pleased with how their pre-season had gone.
"We feel like we've had a pretty good run-in," he said.
While Gulden is a big worry, Sydney will regain stars such as Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Dane Rampe for next week's opener.
They fielded an undermanned side on Friday night, with Tom McCartin's four goals the big highlight.
McCartin has played previously as a key defender and McVeigh said he could go back to that role, depending on what the team needs.
"That might swap week-to-week, we don't know," McVeigh said.
"I don't think we're entirely settled on where he'll play."
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