Jy Simpkin, Chad Wingard and Shame McAdam on recovery path, all working towards return dates

Jarred Cross Published March 13, 2024 at 10.30am (AWST)

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Simpkin has returned to non-contract training with North teammates as the club takes the slow approach to his return from concussion. (Image: AAP)

North Melbourne are in no rush to return co-captain Jy Simpkin as he recovers from a controversial preseason concussion halting his start to the season.

North made the decision last week to rule Simpkin out of their season opener against GWS this coming Saturday.

The 26-year-old will be nursed back from the concussion and sickening bump which saw the AFL hand down their longest ban in years to St Kilda's Jimmy Webster.

"Over the past 10 days, (Simpkin) has graduated his exercise and recovery program in line with AFL guidelines and on Tuesday he merged into the skills session with the main group in a non-contact capacity," North head of performance Kevin White told the club's in-house media this week.

"The medical team will have Jy re-tested against his baseline concussion data going into next week, which will determine his ability to proceed into full-contact training and game availability moving forward."

Simpkin is just one of two of the Roos' 44 listed players not available to play against the Giants in Sydney on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, head coach Alastair Clarkson said Simpkin is "feeling really good" and has "recovered as well as we could possibly hope for" but is being treated with special protocols as a result of a recent string of knocks.

Clarkson said he was "hopeful" of their skipper's return in round two, but couldn't be certain with the decision bound by concussion protocols in the hands of medicos.

The veteran coach was himself caught up in the aftermath of the incident against the Saints earlier this month.

Clarkson was forced to apologise, fined and put on notice for a possible ban after spraying Webster and St Kilda teammate Dougle Howard as tensions ran high at the break after Simpkin was forced from the ground.

He said the incident "was dealt with last week" and he was keen to move on when asked on the matter on Tuesday.

At Hawthorn; club high performance Manager Peter Burge is circling a return date in May for forward Chad Wingard as the 30-year-old continues his recovery from a serious achilles injury late last year.

Wingard endured an injury-plagued 2023 after first falling to hamstring concerns and undergoing surgery for a lacerated tongue before the long-term lower-leg issue.

*Wingard was forced to managed a string of injuries through the 2023 season. (Image: AAP)*

"Contrary to some information that was floating around last week, which wasn't correct, we've always targeted Round 8 as Chad's return," Burge said this week.

"Given the nature of the injury, in terms of how he was tracking he was probably ahead of schedule, but it doesn't mean we're going to move his weeks forward.

"He is returning to team football training one week from now which is exciting, and he'll have multiple weeks of that before we consider any game time."

The Hawks said Wingard is expected to return to team training next week.

The Demons are also keen to get through a "frustrating" start for 2024 recruit Shane McAdam.

*McAdam crossed from Adelaide in the recent trade period to bolster the Dees' goalkicking stocks after a wayward year, and costly finals series, in front of goals. (Image: Facebook)*

McAdam is hampering a hamstring injury in his start at the club.

"As previously mentioned, it's been a frustrating pre-season for Shane," Melbourne high performance manager Selwyn Griffith said.

"We're continuing to work rigorously with him in making sure that we've got the best program that allows him to play AFL.

"At this stage, we're taking it session by session, week by week, but we're really confident that we've got the plan in place that will have Shane play for Melbourne in the coming weeks."