THE PREMIERSHIP contenders emerged relatively unscathed following their round 23 matches and will all benefit from the pre-finals bye.

Geelong youngster James Parsons injured his lower right leg when it got trapped under Greater Western Sydney defender Nathan Wilson in the second quarter.

The 20-year-old hobbled to the rooms for treatment and did not reappear, placing him in doubt for the Cats' finals campaign. 

Speaking post-match, Geelong coach Chris Scott said early indications were that Parsons had suffered a mid-foot sprain. 

"We're hopeful that was the prudent decision because it could've got worse," Scott said. 

Sydney big men Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair rolled their left ankles in separate incidents against Carlton. 

Tippett limped off in the first term following a boundary throw-in and headed to the rooms before quarter-time for treatment.

The 30-year-old received further assessment in the rooms during the second quarter, but returned to the field towards the end of the half. 

Tippett was rested for the entire last quarter with his foot placed in ice.

Sinclair, meanwhile, tweaked his ankle at a ball-up inside defensive 50 during the second term.

The 27-year-old hobbled off for treatment, but came back on before half-time and finished the game. 

Fellow Swans ruckman Sam Naismith (hip) is nearing full fitness and could return in the Swans' NEAFL semi-final this Saturday.

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Essendon is unsure whether key forward Cale Hooker will be fully fit for its elimination final against Sydney due to a calf issue. 

The 28-year-old was a late withdrawal for the Bombers' win over Fremantle after experiencing tightness in the warm-up.

"He wasn't going to be able to play anywhere near top speed, so we now need to find out what's wrong, whether there's any major issue or if it's just a tight calf," Bombers coach John Worsfold said post-match.

"We're hopeful it's just a tight calf."

For Adelaide, defender Alex Keath will be monitored this week after suffering concussion from a heavy hit against West Coast, while fellow backman Luke Brown battled a migraine through the game.

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Greater Western Sydney forward Toby Greene was in considerable pain after receiving a knee to his left ribs from Geelong youngster Brandan Parfitt in a marking contest before quarter-time.

Greene was assessed and had the area strapped during the break before returning to the field early in the second term.

Giants midfielder Jacob Hopper also suffered the same fate when Cats speedster Jordan Murdoch flew in a second-quarter marking contest but, like Greene, played on.

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Port Adelaide star midfielder Chad Wingard sent a major scare through the Power's camp when he left the field with an ankle complaint in the third quarter. 

The 24-year-old's left ankle got caught under a tackle from Gold Coast midfielder Will Brodie in the centre of the ground.

In a positive sign, Wingard came back after a spell on the bench and finished the match.

Power key forward Charlie Dixon also tweaked an ankle late in the game against the Suns and will benefit from a week off. 

Melbourne's loss to Collingwood was compounded by a hamstring injury to Jesse Hogan, adding to the forward's year of agony.

Hogan hurt his left hamstring in the second quarter against Collingwood and went to the rooms at around the midway point of the term.

The 22-year-old emerged a few minutes before half-time to take his place on the bench.

He performed a fitness test on the ground ahead of the third quarter, but donned a tracksuit top soon after and sat out the rest of the game.

Hogan has endured a difficult 2017 during which he mourned the death of his father, had surgery in mid-May to remove testicular cancer and broke his collarbone against North Melbourne in round 19.

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Carlton backman Ciaran Byrne hurt his left leg as Swans forward Gary Rohan came across to smother his effort.

Byrne, who was playing his third game of the season, hyperextended his left knee and may have also hurt his ankle/foot in the incident.

The Irishman sat out the rest of the game with his foot protected by a moon boot and was on crutches post-match.

North Melbourne debutant Ben McKay had a day he would rather forget after colliding heavily with teammate Sam Durdin in a big marking contest late in the third term.

Durdin's chin collided into McKay's head as the pair drifted across from opposite sides of the pack deep in defence.

Play was halted for several minutes as McKay was fitted with a neck brace and taken from the ground on a motorised stretcher.

McKay was taken to hospital for observation, while Durdin received treatment on his cut chin and returned with his head bandaged.

In other injury concerns in round 23:

- St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary failed a concussion test and did not return following a collision with Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt in the first quarter.

- Collingwood joint vice-captain Steele Sidebottom picked up a right hamstring complaint in the second term against Melbourne and played out the second half with his leg heavily strapped.

- Gold Coast forward Callum Ah Chee picked up a right thigh injury in the third term against Port Adelaide and was icing his leg on the bench for the rest of the contest.

- Brisbane Lions utility Ryan Lester suffered a head knock in the final quarter against North Melbourne as he was dragged to ground in a shepherd. The 25-year-old did not come back on.

- Western Bulldogs midfielder Luke Dahlhaus pulled up suddenly on the wing with a left hip complaint during the third term against Hawthorn. The 25-year-old received treatment in the rooms and returned.

- Western Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen came off second best in an accidental head clash with Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell in the dying minutes of the game. Johannisen left the field under the blood rule.