Unfortunately injury has ruled Tom Abercrombie and Alex Pledger out of the first game of the new season. Both have been significant contributors to the Breakers success in recent seasons. They are both in line to tick off a couple of significant statistical milestones when they return.
Tom Abercrombie has accumulated 1,907 points during his Breakers career to date. He will be just the third Breaker after Kirk Penney (2,517) and CJ Bruton (2,049) to go past the 2000 points mark, probably later this month after hopefully a very short injury lay off.
The spring heeled swingman leads the all time shots blocked statistical category for the club. Abercrombie has swatted away 128 opponents efforts, the most memorable that rejection of a Shawn Redhage effort late in game three of the finals series against Perth in 2012 – and he only had one good leg at the time!
Alex Pledger (116) is second in the shots blocked category and also needs just 27 points to reach the 1,000 points mark for the Breakers. He will be just the 13th Breakers player to reach that milestone. Unfortunately the Breakers centre appears to be under an injury curse at present.
Prior to last December’s season ending injury Pledger had missed just one game in three and a half seasons including playing 85 consecutive games.
If his current injury necessitates a lengthy rest or worse still turns out to be season ending then it will be interesting to see who the Breakers turn to. Young Tai Wynyard can pick up a little of the slack, but still at school he can’t be expected to play too many minutes.
LACEY LOWDOWN 