BARELLAN look set to play the Farrer League season out without co-captain Matt Irvin.
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The talented Two Blues leader was a victim of friendly fire in Saturday's loss to Charles Sturt University when he sustained a badly broken jaw.
Irvin was taken to Canberra Hospital, where he had a plate and screws inserted and was released on Tuesday.
It occured through a collision with a team mate just before half-time and is likely to see Barellan without Irvin for the remainder of the season.
"Obviously he's our inspirational skipper and we'd love to see him again but we're unlikely to see him again this year," Barellan coach Alex Lawder said.
"His health is more important."
Irvin co-coached Barellan in 2017 and has been a mainstay for the Two Blues since their return to the Farrer League in 2015.
He has been in Barellan's best in six of their 10 games this season and Lawder described him as irreplaceable.
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"He's a hole that we're not going to be able to replace, put it that way," Lawder said.
"He's been our best player and it's probably very fair to say that he'd be leading our b&f as well.
"He's obviously a big-bodied midfielder, strong, loves to play on and get the ball moving but his overhead marking is really handy for us around the ground."
The injury added to what was a tough day at Peter Hastie Oval last Saturday.
Playing to keep any faint hope of finals alive, Barellan suffered a 38-point defeat.
The Two Blues were able to win the first and last quarters, but the damage was done through the middle of the game.
"It's been a common theme, we lapse for one quarter of a game and that's what seems to be costing us the game," Lawder said.
"My frustration is, the Marrar game, up at quarter-time, still in it at half-time, and the same with East Wagga. Every team we've matched it with at certain stages.
"The signs are there, it's just sustaining it."
Barellan hope to regain Ben Cleaver and Josh Brittliff for Saturday's home game against The Rock-Yerong Creek.
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