Nick Coffield has received news regarding the severity of his shoulder injury, adding to the challenges faced by the Bulldogs defender. Following Sunday’s victory over Gold Coast at Mars Stadium, the Western Bulldogs’ recent addition, Nick Coffield, sustained a dislocated shoulder, leading to another prolonged absence from the field.
The 24-year-old will be undergoing surgery on Wednesday following consultation with a surgeon on Monday afternoon. This injury necessitates a shoulder reconstruction, sidelining Coffield for a minimum of three months. This setback effectively halts his return to AFL action after just two games; his comeback lasted a mere 938 days, initiated during the encounter with Melbourne in round one.
Coffield’s history with injuries includes a previous anterior cruciate ligament rupture suffered at the same Ballarat ground during a pre-season training session in 2022, which kept him out of AFL action throughout the previous year due to recurrent calf problems. Having moved to the Whitten Oval last October, Coffield aimed for a fresh start after enduring a challenging period at Moorabbin.
Despite completing a full pre-season and securing a spot in Luke Beveridge’s backline for round one, Coffield now faces another frustrating stint in the rehabilitation group. He previously underwent shoulder reconstruction in 2019 and is expected to remain sidelined until approximately the Bulldogs’ bye in round 15.
Following a lackluster start to the 2024 season, the Western Bulldogs responded emphatically against Damien Hardwick’s team, achieving a 48-point victory in rural Victoria and balancing their win-loss record at 1-1.