<blockquote>Luckless Eagles big man Dean Cox found out yesterday that the finger he dislocated in a ruck contest at the Gabba on Saturday night requires surgery. Cox had been hoping that dislocation was only minor, and that he would be able to play regardless of the injury. However, the Eagles medical staff informed him yesterday evening that the finger did require minor surgery and that he would be facing a 2-3 week lay-off.

This comes as a shock to the Eagles coaching staff, who watched Cox win All Australian honours playing with a broken bone in his foot last season, as well as start this season with a fractured cheekbone he suffered in pre-season training. Nevertheless, coach John Worsfold did admit it worried him when Cox was unable to mark with the affected hand at training yesterday. "Dean [Cox] copped a knock on the finger in a ruck contest down in the back pocket on Saturday night. We are still hopeful that he will be right for Sunday though," Worsfold said to the media after training yesterday.

Worsfold will not be impressed by the news that his star ruckman is now facing more than two weeks on the sidelines, as potential replacement, number two draft pick Nick Natanui is still three weeks away from fitness with a knee injury. This leaves the Eagles with only one recognised ruck option in Mark Seaby, although full-forward Quentin Lynch has occasionally been given ruck duties in the past. </blockquote>

You be the judge...