ESSENDON small forward Josh Green is almost certain to miss the rest of the season with a possible fractured left foot, joining fellow livewire Orazio Fantasia (hamstring) on the injury list.
The 24-year-old pulled up sore as he turned to take possession of a bouncing ball in the final quarter against Gold Coast and was on crutches after the game with his foot protected by a moon boot.
The former Brisbane Lion fractured his right foot in January last year – which forced him out for 10 weeks – and missed six games in 2015 with a stress fracture in his foot.
Bombers coach John Worsfold said the initial prognosis was not positive, with more to be known following scans on Monday.
"That looks like it's serious," Worsfold told Triple M on Sunday.
"He fractured a bone in his foot up in Brisbane a few years ago and had that pinned, and there's a possibility this is the same thing as the other foot."
Western Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer's season also appears over after injuring his left hamstring for the second time in just over a month.
The 23-year-old reached for his leg in the first quarter against Port Adelaide following a stoppage and went straight to the rooms.
Stringer reappeared a few minutes later and tried to perform run-throughs along the boundary, but ultimately sat out the rest of the game icing the injury.
He hurt the same hamstring in round 17 against Carlton and missed the following three games, before returning last weekend against Greater Western Sydney.
Jake Stringer has iced up his hamstring after injuring it early in the first quarter. #AFLDogsPower pic.twitter.com/fzzRof8yS6
— AFL (@AFL) August 19, 2017
St Kilda defender Sam Gilbert suffered an abdominal strain against North Melbourne, placing him in doubt for Sunday's match against Richmond.
The 31-year-old was assessed in the rooms during the third quarter and sat out the final term.
Speaking post-match, Saints coach Alan Richardson said Gilbert was "less likely than likely" to face the Tigers.
Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams could be unavailable for Saturday's clash with Melbourne after experiencing blurred vision against Geelong.
The 23-year-old picked up separate knocks over the course of the game, but managed to play out the contest.
"He was pretty knocked up towards the end," Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said post-match.
Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston dislocated his right shoulder after being tackled to ground by Western Bulldog Toby McLean late in the first term.
The visibly sore 20-year-old, who was last week's NAB AFL Rising Star nominee, walked off the ground to have his shoulder popped back into place.
In a good sign, Houston began the second quarter on the ground with his upper arm strapped and played out the game.
Dan Houston headed to the rooms after this tackle from Toby McLean. #AFLDogsPower pic.twitter.com/PctO79HWRT
— AFL (@AFL) August 19, 2017
Greater Western Sydney midfielder Josh Kelly and West Coast forward Josh Kennedy escaped serious injury after being involved in a nasty collision in the final quarter.
Kelly needed treatment for a bloody nose and a cut above his left eye, while Kennedy stayed on the ground.
"We'll keep monitoring (Kelly) during the week because he obviously got hit in the head and we'll make sure he's looked after in the early part of the week," Giants coach Leon Cameron said post-match.
"Touch wood he's fine for next Saturday (against Geelong)."
Josh Kelly left the field with the blood rule after this clash with Josh Kennedy. #AFLGiantsEagles pic.twitter.com/SB0zdvT06Q
— AFL (@AFL) August 19, 2017
North Melbourne defender Daniel Nielson received an accidental knee to the back of his head from St Kilda forward Josh Bruce late in the first quarter.
Play was halted for several minutes as the 21-year-old was fitted with a neck brace and taken from the ground on a motorised stretcher.
Nielson, who gave the thumbs up to the crowd as he left the field, was alert in the rooms and watched the rest of the game from the bench.
Kangaroos defender Daniel Nielson was taken off on the stretcher in the first quarter. #AFLSaintsNorth pic.twitter.com/7pnvTz5T3j
— AFL (@AFL) August 20, 2017
In other injury concerns in round 22:
- Adelaide defender Daniel Talia rolled the outside of his right ankle in a marking contest just before three-quarter time against Sydney. The 25-year-old was helped from the field, but returned after being assessed at the last break. "He just tweaked his ankle a little bit … so we're pretty confident he can come up in nine days with a minor ankle sprain," Crows coach Don Pyke said post-match.
- Port Adelaide half-forward Sam Gray picked up a corked right thigh in an accidental first-quarter collision with teammate Patrick Ryder. Gray hobbled off the ground and returned after a spell on the bench, finishing the game with his leg strapped.
- Greater Western Sydney ruckman Shane Mumford received treatment on his left ankle at the start of the second half against West Coast. The 31-year-old had his lower leg heavily taped and played on.
- St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle experienced back tightness before the game against North Melbourne, but took his place in the side.
- North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein picked up separate injuries against St Kilda. He suffered a scratch on his right eye in the first term and returned after treatment, only to injure his left knee in the final term. The 29-year-old was icing his knee late in the game.
- North Melbourne big man Braydon Preuss hurt his right shoulder against St Kilda and spent time in the rooms during the second term to have it re-strapped. The 22-year-old reappeared before half-time and saw out the contest.
- Carlton forward Jack Silvagni received an inadvertent boot to his jaw from Hawthorn defender Kaiden Brand and will be assessed further despite playing out the game.
- Carlton midfielder Billie Smedts was ruled out of the game with concussion following a head clash with Hawthorn ball-winner Tom Mitchell in the third quarter.
- Carlton onballer Sam Petrevski-Seton picked up a corked right thigh after coming into contact with Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell in a second-quarter marking contest. Petrevski-Seton had his leg strapped and played on.
- Hawthorn vice-captain Liam Shiels was a late out against Carlton with a corked hip.
- Gold Coast small forward Ben Ainsworth came off the ground midway through the third term against Essendon with a right ankle complaint, but returned after having it strapped.