Bulls suffer flag hit with Miller’s season ending injury

Mt Barker’s premiership hopes have taken a hit with classy defender Tyron Miller ruled out for the remainder of the Great Southern Football League season after rupturing his Achilles.

Miller, one of the Bulls’ most reliable players this season, has done significant damage to his Achilles that has needed surgery forcing him to miss the rest of the 2018 campaign.

The former East Fremantle league player did the injury in the week after the Bulls’ loss to North Albany and, after missing their past two matches against Royals and Railways, coach Brad Hook confirmed that major blow.

The Bulls will also be without young gun Aidin Williss, who has had surgery on a troublesome ankle, for the rest of this season further stretching the club’s depth.

Hook is preparing to make more changes to his side ahead of their crunch round 13 clash with Denmark-Walpole at Sounness Park on Saturday.

Bulls midfielder Luke Hammond will face the GSFL tribunal on a striking charge after being red-carded in the final term against Railways last Saturday, while leading goal kicker Kym Monteath played the second half with his troublesome hamstring heavily strapped and is in some doubt.

“We may be missing four from the side on the weekend,” Hook said.

“Ryan Ballard, Kurt Haskins, Justin Parsons and likely Luke Hammond. Monty had a training session in Perth (Tuesday) but I’m not too sure, you’d have to say he’s a maybe at this stage depending on how he pulls up.”

Lee Pavlovich is a likely inclusion for the Bulls but Jack Horrocks and Daniel Parker still face fitness tests.

Hook said his side were on guard against the Magpies, who had won their past two matches.

“Their season is on the line and they are up and about,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter where our two sides are on the ladder we always match up well against each other, its our derby really.

“It’s no surprise that Denmark have hit their straps since (Shayne) Zanetti has come into the team.”

Magpies star Ryan Gaerth will return to further boost his side’s hopes of a third straight win after knocking off the reigning premiers last week. Kalin Lane, Dylan Judd and Jared Lane are other possible inclusions.

In the other fixtures, both on Sunday, the Lions host the Tigers in an intriguing contest at Centennial Stadium while the Kangas face Albany at Collingwood Park.