Temora’s worst fears have been confirmed with Matt Harpley rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
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Harpley went down in the opening quarter of the Kangaroos win over North Wagga in Saturday’s qualifying final.
Initial concerns were realised on Tuesday when the star full-forward went to Sydney for specialist advice.
Scans revealed the rupture in the same knee he injured at the end of the 2015 season.
He spent 18 months away from football recovering on that occasion and is looking at the same prognosis this time around
Harpley’s father Darryl, the Kangaroos vice-president, travelled to Sydney with the 23-year-old.
He said it was a devastating blow.
“It’s a blow for him, a blow for the side, a blow for the club and a blow for everyone,” Harpley said.
Harpley spent more than 600 days between games following his first surgery.
However the key forward had regained his feet, leading the competition’s goalkickers, as the Kangaroos looked to launch a serious premiership campaign.
He booted 60 goals in 16 games coming into the start of the finals, including a season-high eight against Coleambally in the last round of the regular season.
His combination with Matt Wallis, also returning from a serious knee injury, had the Kangaroos forward line firing.
Now Temora has to regroup ahead of a clash with Marrar in the second semi-final at Robertson Oval on Saturday.
The Bombers have only lost twice this season with the most recent against the Kangaroos in round 10.
While disappointed to be without Harpley, coach Jake Wooden thought having Wallis coming off a nine-goal haul will help soften the blow.
“We still have a big powerful forward that kicks a lot of goals,” Wooden said.
“Ideally I would like to have them both playing but one is better than none.
“It was good that on the weekend Matt Wallis stood up for us when Matt Harpley went down and kicked nine goals.
“He played a big role for us and will this weekend.”
