GEELONG and Hawthorn will each sweat on the fitness of an important defender – Harry Taylor and Ryan Burton respectively – ahead of their annual Easter Monday blockbuster at the MCG.
Both players suffered injuries to their lower left legs early in their round one games and were unable to return.
Taylor, the Cats' veteran swingman, hobbled from the field with an injury to his dominant left foot in the first quarter of Geelong's win over Melbourne on Sunday.
The potential loss of the two-time premiership player would compound the Cats’ defensive issues, given fellow key backman Lachie Henderson is sidelined with a knee problem.
Burton, the emerging Hawks star, also appears to face an uphill battle to recover in time for the huge clash after the 21-year-old rolled his left ankle in the second term of his team’s comfortable win over Collingwood on Saturday night.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said Burton would be "pushing it" to face the Cats.
"Our rule of thumb is if they can't come back on the ground they're usually in a fair amount of doubt to play the next week," Clarkson said post-match.
"We don't think it's a significantly bad injury and he'll be touch and go to play, I'd imagine.”
Two big names who won’t play this week are Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder (Achilles) and Western Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore (knee).
Ryder, who has managed Achilles soreness for several years, didn't return after half-time of the Power's win over Fremantle. Coach Ken Hinkley later confirmed his high-leaping big man would "miss some time", the extent of which could be determined by scans on Monday.
Ryder will be a huge loss for the Power, who will confront Sydney at the SCG on Sunday, and poses a selection dilemma given their lack of back-up ruck experience.
Liberatore will be forced to undergo a second knee reconstruction in the space of just three years after the Bulldogs' premiership hero went down clutching his previously 'good' right knee during the first quarter of his club's big loss to Greater Western Sydney.
New teammate Hayden Crozier, the former Docker, also hurt his right knee, though not as seriously, finishing the game on the sidelines with an ice pack.
Essendon is expected to take a conservative approach with young star Zach Merrett, who suffered concussion late in the first quarter after copping a bump from Adelaide’s Richard Douglas.
The incident, which resulted in Douglas being offered a one-game suspension, was the second head knock Merrett had received in a month, following a less serious collision in the pre-season hit-out against Richmond at Wangaratta.
Bombers coach John Worsfold said post-match: "Medically, we have to be really careful." So Merrett’s hopes of playing Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday appear slim.
Adelaide could be without Curtly Hampton for its Grand Final rematch against Richmond at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night after the utility tweaked a groin in the Crows' loss to Essendon on Friday night.
Hampton’s night was over early in the last quarter when ice was applied to his upper leg, but the Crows remain unsure of the severity of the problem.
The Crows face a dreaded six-day turnaround and will hope to regain veteran recruit Sam Gibson, who was a late withdrawal for the Bombers' clash with hamstring tightness.
Carlton's bid for a win against Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday won't be made easier by injuries to ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and midfielder Matthew Kennedy.
Blues coach Brendon Bolton said Kreuzer, who spent much of the third term receiving treatment and returned in the last quarter, had "lost a bit of power in his groins" but the coach didn’t believe it was a long-term concern.
Ex-Giant Kennedy damaged his left ankle in the first quarter against Richmond and unsuccessfully tried to play on before sitting out the bulk of the contest.
Brisbane defender Daniel Rich also hurt his left ankle, leaving the field in the second quarter of his team’s loss to St Kilda, but he could face Melbourne at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Collingwood’s hopes of upsetting the Giants haven't been helped by runner Josh Smith straining a hamstring and Ben Crocker hurting his back late in last quarter of the Magpies’ disappointing loss to Hawthorn.
