Milne fractures cheek bone
18/08/2008 7:59 PM
St Kilda goalsneak Steven Milne has a fractured cheekbone following Sunday's big victory over Fremantle at Subiaco and will not play in the Saints' big clash against Adelaide on Sunday.
The livewire No.44 suffered the injury to his right cheekbone at the ten minute mark of the first quarter in an accidental head clash with Dockers defender Antoni Grover.
But, with his face puffed up to almost twice its normal size, Milne fought on, kicking three goals and pulling off a contender for Goal of the Year when he ran onto an Aaron Sandilands tap and half-volleyed the ball home from 30 metres out during a dominant third quarter for the Saints.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon originally was told by club medical staff that the injury wasn't severe, but scans after the game revealed a break, forcing Milne to be driven back home to Melbourne overland, a drive reminiscent of James Hird's return from Perth after suffering a horrendous facial injury playing against the Dockers in 2002.
Milne's forward team-mate Adam Schneider, who kicked four goals himself, lauded Milne's efforts in a match the Saints desperately needed to win to make this season's finals.
"He was fantastic to fight on with that. It happened in the first 10 minutes and that shows the courage that he's got," Schneider told The West Australian.
"He set a real example for everyone else. If he'd got another hit it would have really hurt and that inspired everyone to keep digging."
Milne is also in doubt for St Kilda's round 22 clash with Essendon at Telstra Dome.