GREATER Western Sydney faces an anxious wait to find out the severity of Shane Mumford's knee injury after the ruckman went to ground in the dying minutes against Port Adelaide.
The 30-year-old clutched his right knee with just over four minutes remaining in the match and was not risked in the final moments.
Speaking post-match, Giants coach Leon Cameron said the true extent of Mumford's injury would be known following further assessment, but acknowledged the big man wanted to return and see out the game.
Some injury concerns for Shane Mumford late in #AFLPowerGiants https://t.co/LZdsmyYrG5
— AFL (@AFL) July 24, 2016
The Western Bulldogs are facing their toughest challenge yet after their loss to St Kilda was compounded by three injuries, including a sickening leg break to midfielder Mitch Wallis.
The 23-year-old, who had surgery on Sunday, fractured both the tibia and fibula in his lower left leg midway through the final term, when he tried to dispose of the ball with his right foot but instead kicked the back of his other leg as Saint Shane Savage laid a tackle.
Wallis collapsed in agony and was taken off the ground on a mobile stretcher, before being consoled by his teammates as they entered the rooms after the game.
Just minutes before Wallis's horror leg fracture, forward Jack Redpath also suffered a season-ending injury, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after it gave way when he tried to change direction at half-forward.
The 25-year-old overcame two knee reconstructions before being rookie listed by the Bulldogs in 2011, and will now require a third reconstruction.
Redpath first clutched his right leg midway through the third quarter after landing awkwardly as he misjudged a quick kick at goal. He was assessed in the rooms and given the all clear to return to the field, only to go down again in the last term with the dreaded ACL tear.
Veteran defender Dale Morris experienced left hamstring tightness and sat out the second half as a precaution.
Speaking post-match, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said Morris' issue was not "anything major", although it remains unclear if the 33-year-old will miss an extended period.
Adelaide captain Taylor Walker was limping heavily in the rooms and was on crutches after the loss to Geelong with a right ankle issue.
The 26-year-old will be further assessed to determine the severity and his availability for Sunday's home clash to Essendon.
The Crows are hopeful defender Daniel Talia has escaped serious injury after he limped off with a suspected corked left hip late in the third quarter and spent the rest of the game with ice strapped around his leg.
Carlton first-round draftee Charlie Curnow is expected to again be sidelined after Levi Casboult fell back across his right knee in a marking contest during the third term against the Sydney Swans.
The 19-year-old, who was recruited with pick No.12 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, spent the rest of the match with ice strapped around his knee and will have scans to determine the extent of the damage.
Curnow has endured an injury-interrupted maiden season, missing just over three months with glandular fever followed by a minor ankle complaint.
In other injury concerns at the weekend:
- Richmond defender Dylan Grimes received treatment at three-quarter time for hamstring tightness and did not reappear in the last term against Hawthorn. The 25-year-old has a history of hamstring setbacks and was a late withdrawal against North Melbourne in round 11 after injuring his right leg in the warm-up.
- Essendon spearhead Joe Daniher was bleeding from the mouth after receiving an accidental elbow to the face in the first quarter against the Brisbane Lions. He received medical attention to stem the flow and got through with no real concern.
- Collingwood defender Ben Sinclair's immediate playing future is under a cloud after he suffered his fourth concussion of the season. The 24-year-old was sent to hospital for precautionary scans following his first-quarter collision with Kangaroo Jed Anderson. The Magpies are set to take a cautious approach with Sinclair given his concussion history.
Magpie Ben Sinclair will not return to the field with a concussion concern. #AFLPiesNorth https://t.co/aUzSAEBgvq
— AFL (@AFL) July 22, 2016
- Swans defender Aliir Aliir came off the ground late in the fourth term after receiving an accidental knock to the head from teammate Heath Grundy as he fell to ground in a marking contest. Aliir seemed to escape serious injury and was fine to return to the field.
- Crows speedster Charlie Cameron landed awkwardly on his right knee in a marking contest midway through the final term against Geelong. He walked off the ground for further observation but saw out the game.
- Demons livewire Neville Jetta limped off early in the final quarter against West Coast with an apparent right knee issue but returned to the field.
- Blue Sam Kerridge hurt his left shoulder in a bone-crunching bump from Swan Gary Rohan in the third quarter. The 23-year-old received medical attention and played out the match, albeit in some obvious discomfort.
- Saint Leigh Montagna suffered a corked left thigh in the final quarter after receiving a knee from Bulldog Lin Jong, but coach Alan Richardson said he expected the veteran to be available to face North Melbourne on Saturday night.