http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews ... 63954.html
Saint ready for senior recall
Brent Diamond | May 10, 2009
ST KILDA defender Matt Maguire was impressive yesterday in his bid to return to senior football, booting five goals in Sandringham's six-point loss to the Northern Bullants.
But in a big blow to the Saints, Leigh Fisher was taken to Epworth Hospital with a lacerated eye, after a heavy collision 10 minutes into the first term.
"I haven't had the feedback from the doctors. But I think it might have been a very deep laceration so it required some plastic surgery that our guys clearly couldn't do down here," Zebras coach Andy Lovell said.
The injury to Fisher, who has played 55 matches for the Saints, is the second telling blow to the Saints' depth after Xavier Clarke suffered a season-ending knee injury for the Zebras last week.
But Maguire shone yesterday in arguably his best outing on his long comeback trail from a recurrence of stress fractures in his foot.
He kicked two important goals in the third term to edge the Zebras back into the match, before taking a strong grab and booting another in the final term to get the margin back to within two kicks.
The Saints' key position player had 10 marks and was the most dangerous forward on the ground with five goals.
"He was terrific. (Nick) Sautner was out of the team, so we had to push him forward and he gave us a real target up forward," Lovell said.
"He's been working really hard to rebuild his game fitness. He's taken another step forward."
The 24-year-old has not played a senior match since round seven last year.
Carlton also had mixed news with 18-year-old rookie Lachie Hill suffering a hamstring injury, but the performances of Brad Fisher and Mitch Robinson added more spark to the Bullants' gritty win. Robinson was supreme in the midfield, while Fisher continued to edge towards senior selection with two goals.
Ryan Houlihan also impressed, while Adam Hartlett sent a scare through the Blues' army after limping off the ground in the final term. Coach David Teague said later he had been taken off for precautionary reasons.
"I thought Robinson was very good particularly early. He won a lot of first possessions. It was a massive win for us him playing on Peter Summers," Teague said.
"I thought today was his (Fisher's) best game.
"His work rate's been up every game. He's been very consistent. He got rewarded with a couple of goals today."
