Sydney veteran Luke Parker is facing a delayed start to the 2024 season after undergoing surgery on a broken arm.

The 31-year old sustained the injury in an innocuous incident in the last quarter of the Swans’ trial match against GWS, with the club confirming the setback after scans on Monday.

No time frame has yet been set for Parker’s return, but it seems almost certain the tough nut will miss Sydney’s Opening Round clash with Melbourne to kick off the home-and-away season at the SCG on Thursday, March 7.

“Sydney Swans midfielder Luke Parker suffered a broken arm in last week’s match simulation against GWS Giants,” a club statement reads.

“Parker sustained the injury in the last quarter of the game.

“The 31-year-old had surgery on Friday.

“He will meet with specialists again this Friday to determine his return to play date.”

Parker has missed just two games since the start of 2015, with his most recent a one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Carlton’s Sam Walsh midway through last year.

The setback is a less than ideal blow for the Swans, who were already missing captain Callum Mills due to off-season shoulder surgery following a wrestling incident at the club’s Mad Monday celebration.

NT footballer faces monster ban for teen ump assault

A Northern Territory footballer is facing a hefty suspension after grabbing a teenage umpire and throwing him to the ground in a shocking moment during an NTFL match.

Warwick Williams, who had only returned to the league this season after serving a 14-month prison sentence for assault, was involved in a scuffle while playing for PINT in their elimination final against Southern Districts, before grabbing the umpire by the shirt when he came to break things up.

Senior umpire Mark Noonan placed Williams on report and immediately sent him off the ground for the remainder of the match.

“Umpires are integral to our game and like everyone have the right to feel safe and valued at the footy,” an AFLNT statement concerning the incident reads.

“While we acknowledge that this incident must follow due process, we wish to reinforce that AFLNT strongly condemns abuse of any type in our game and has zero tolerance when it comes to umpire abuse in any form.”

Port bull set to learn fate for high bump

AFL rules around high bumps face their first searching test of the year when Port Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper is scrutinised over the contact that concussed Adelaide’s Mark Keane.

Powell-Pepper will learn his fate on Monday when the league’s match review officer hands down the findings from the first week of trial matches.

The 26-year-old, who has been added to the Power’s leadership group this year, faces a possible hefty ban.

He is under the microscope after making contact with Keane’s head in a hip-and-shoulder bump in the first quarter of Friday night’s drawn Port-Crows trial match.

Keane had possession and was caught in a Willie Rioli tackle that swung the Adelaide defender as Powell-Pepper charged in.

Powell-Pepper’s right shoulder struck Keane on the right side of his head.

Keane slumped to the ground as Crows staff rushed to his aid, with the Irish-born backman soon helped from the field by two medicos.

There was some suggestion Keane suffered a broken jaw, but Adelaide were yet to confirm an update on his condition as of Sunday night.

The incident occurred just hours after Melbourne premiership player Angus Brayshaw was forced  to retire on medical advice to protect his long-term health and wellbeing.

Brayshaw, 28, was concussed multiple times throughout his career, most recently in a collision with Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard during last year’s finals.

That incident led to the AFL tightening rules around smothering attempts, placing a greater duty of care on players to avoid making high contact with opponents.

(AAP)