Roo's illness is still mysteryMARK Ricciuto has been ruled out of Saturday's clash with Melbourne and almost certainly Adelaide's first final.
Beyond that, the Crows say they still don't know how long their inspirational skipper will be sidelined by a mystery virus. But there is a possibility he might not play again this season.
"We're certainly not ruling him out for the year but we cannot be certain (how long he will be out) because we still don't know what (virus) he has got," said Adelaide club doctor Brian Sando, giving his first detailed analysis of a devastating rash of injuries and illness which have rocked the club on the eve of the AFL finals.
"Extensive investigations are being done but at this stage we haven't come up with a concrete diagnosis. Mark is still undergoing blood tests, he's under the care of a physician and he also has a virologist (virus specialist) involved and as soon as Mark knows what the diagnosis is, then everyone will know."
Sando, who expects to have a "concrete" answer on Ricciuto's condition within the next 24 hours, refused to be drawn on whether he has Ross River or glandular fever - as has been speculated. However he did say a diagnosis can usually be made earlier with those conditions.
"I think the fair thing to say is that it's not much good saying what he hasn't got until we know what he has got," Sando said.
"We've got to respect the patient's wishes and Mark would far sooner prefer that all conjecture be put aside until we know exactly what that is and then that will be announced."
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20311377-21544,00.html