THE SYDNEY Swans' quest for a Grand Final berth has been made all the more difficult, with co-captain Jarrad McVeigh and speedster Gary Rohan in doubt for Friday night's preliminary final against Geelong.
McVeigh pulled up lame during the second quarter of Saturday night's 36-point semi-final win over Adelaide at the SCG with a left calf strain and hobbled off the ground.
Two Swans in doubt as injury carnage strikes
The 31-year-old received plenty of treatment and began the second half on the field with a heavily strapped leg, but lasted just seven minutes in the third quarter playing as a deep forward.
McVeigh spent the rest of the game with ice around his leg.
The Swans' co-captain could miss the big clash against the Cats after injuring his calf earlier. #AFLFinals https://t.co/I7utI1ZSiM
— AFL (@AFL) September 17, 2016
Rohan, meanwhile, injured his right knee in a marking contest in defensive 50 on the verge of half-time and was taken off the ground on a mobile stretcher.
Swans coach John Longmire said the 25-year-old received a knock to the side of his knee in the incident, with scans needed to reveal the full extent.
Rohan emerged from the rooms on crutches and watched the second half from the interchange bench.
He is no stranger to serious leg injuries, having suffered a compound fracture of his right tibia bone against North Melbourne in round four, 2012.
Gary Rohan is coming off the ground after injuring himself in this contest. #AFLFinals https://t.co/xLAa5nWmbV
— AFL (@AFL) September 17, 2016
The Swans have other major injury concerns ahead of their blockbuster preliminary final against the Cats, with ruckman Kurt Tippett and defender Callum Mills both racing the clock to be fit.
Tippett suffered a hairline fracture to his jaw in the qualifying final loss to cross-town rival GWS last Saturday, while Mills picked up a low-grade hamstring strain in the same match.
Swans defender Zak Jones is also under a serious injury cloud after being knocked out by GWS' Jeremy Finlayson in the NEAFL Grand Final last Sunday. Finlayson was suspended for three matches as a result.
COMMENT: Are Swans battle-hardened or battle-weary?
Geelong could regain defender Lachie Henderson this week after he trained strongly in the club's two-hour open training session on Saturday.
Henderson has not played since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on August 23.
Cats speedster Steven Motlop suffered an injury scare at training and received treatment on a leg complaint on the boundary line, although the Cats were quick to allay any fears.
The Western Bulldogs emerged with a clean bill of health from Friday night's 23-point semi-final win over Hawthorn.
Young gun Caleb Daniel picked up a right shoulder 'stinger' in the final quarter as he attempted to tackle Hawk Josh Gibson, but he quickly shook that off to return to the field in the closing minutes.
In other injury concerns at the weekend:
- Adelaide defender Daniel Talia received medical treatment during the second quarter against the Swans for a groin complaint and was hampered by the injury for the rest of the game.
- Crow Jake Lever landed awkwardly on his right ankle in a marking contest in the second term. The 20-year-old underwent a mini fitness test in the rooms at half-time, but was clearly in pain and took no further part in the match.
- Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis finished the semi-final against the Bulldogs in a tracksuit with a hamstring issue.