BROUGHT TO YOU BYMLC

NOT for the first time this season, Collingwood will need to call up reinforcements from the VFL for its crunch clash with Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night.

The Pies, already missing several members of their best 22, lost key defender Matthew Scharenberg to a likely season-ending knee injury in the loss to Richmond, while gun forward Jamie Elliott (hamstring), who was nearing a return to the seniors, may also be unavailable for the remainder of the year after he re-injured his left hamstring in the VFL on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Howe – another key pillar in Collingwood's defence – spent most of the game against the Tigers on the bench after being concussed in the first quarter. Howe will be assessed during the week.

Richmond will monitor the fitness of in-form midfielder Dion Prestia ahead of Friday night's test against Geelong, after he finished Saturday's blockbuster at the MCG with sore ribs following a heavy bump from Travis Varcoe.

The Cats have injury concerns of their own, with defender Tom Stewart set to miss at least a few weeks with a left ankle problem.

Stewart limped from the field in the first term of Saturday's win over Brisbane and was wearing a moon boot by the end of the match.

Adelaide will almost certainly be without winger Paul Seedsman for Saturday's Showdown, after he injured a hamstring in the first quarter of the loss to Melbourne.

Seedsman, who left the field and didn't return, will have scans on Monday.

Essendon may be without Matt Dea and Kyle Langford for its important match-up with Hawthorn on Saturday.

Dea was stretchered off with concussion after a heavy fall in a marking contest in the opening quarter of the big win over Sydney, while Langford was taken to hospital for scans following a bump to the head from Zak Jones in the last quarter.

West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy remains in doubt for Sunday's Derby, while midfielder Luke Shuey may return after they both missed the trip to Hobart.

Kennedy was a late withdrawal due to general soreness, while Shuey was absent because of personal reasons.

Fremantle will enter the Derby without Cam Sutcliffe, after he injured a hamstring in the fourth quarter of the loss to Hawthorn.

Jacob Weitering will likely be missing from the Carlton side that meets Greater Western Sydney on Sunday. The young defender severely corked a quad in a courageous marking attempt late in the win over the Suns.

Gold Coast on-baller David Swallow will go through the usual concussion protocols this week, after he was left concussed from a Patrick Cripps tackle.

In other injury news:

  • Geelong's Jed Bews should be fine to face to the Tigers, despite spending some time on the bench after copping a knock from teammate Mitch Duncan in a marking contest
  • Collingwood's Brody Mihocek is in some doubt to face the Swans. Mihocek played out the game against the Tigers with a sore ankle
  • Sydney will keep a close watch on Heath Grundyand Harry Cunningham. Grundy was ill on Friday night and needed to be managed during the Bombers game, while Cunningham received a corked hip in the loss, but battled on. And Aliir Aliir required strapping to a knee, but played on without discomfort
  • At Richmond, superstar Alex Rance was treated briefly for a sore right glute/hamstring in the second term, but played out the game, as did Brandon Ellis after copping a corked thigh in the third quarter
  • Adelaide's Mitch McGovern came from the ground in the third term with a sore AC joint after a collision with Angus Brayshaw, but returned to finish the game
    • North Melbourne midfielder Jed Anderson was able to finish the game after passing a first-quarter concussion test
    • Western Bulldogs big man Jordan Roughead received a cut to the head, but was bandaged up and returned
    • Port Adelaide defender Tom Jonas required strapping to his left knee during the win over the Bulldogs, but moved freely when he came back on
    • Fremantle's Darcy Tucker felt the impact of a solid Ben Stratton bump, but after a brief stint on the bench, he soon returned