OLLIE Wines and Jimmy Bartel each face about two months on the sidelines after suffering serious injuries on the weekend, leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said.
Larkins also told AFL.com.au on Monday that St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt was set to miss two to three weeks with a calf strain, Jack Ziebell (bruised lungs) was a "very small chance" to play on Sunday against Geelong and Dale Morris (pectoral) was set to miss at least six weeks.
Wines dislocated the two bones joining his wrist (the radius and the ulna) in Port Adelaide's win over North Melbourne on Saturday night.
Larkins said the Power midfielder had not suffered any fractures but might need surgery to repair damaged ligaments.
"He'll have to make a decision on whether he requires surgery to repair the ligaments that caused the dislocated wrist, or whether he can get by with a splint," Larkins said.
"Either way he's probably going to be out for six to eight weeks."
Injury concern for Wines as Port Adelaide notches first win with thrilling triumph over North http://t.co/XNgMMA6eEl http://t.co/XBi7nM8TNW
— AFL (@AFL) April 18, 2015
Larkins said Bartel had suffered a high-grade medial ligament injury when his knee buckled as Suns midfielder Michael Rischitelli slid low to win a contested ball.
Larkins said that injury would sideline Bartel for six to 10 weeks but suggested the Cats would also be anxious to rule out any related anterior cruciate ligament damage.
"Often when a player has that big medial site tear, the ACL is the next ligament to go," Larkins said.
"I think the club was reasonably happy that it was just the medial, but having said that a high-grade medial can take anything from six to 10 weeks to get better."
Bartel has been subbed off after copping a knock to his left knee #AFLCatsSuns http://t.co/185hprHo2D
— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2015
Riewoldt was a late withdrawal from the Saints' team that played Collingwood last Friday night, with St Kilda announcing the next day that he had suffered a low-grade calf strain.
Larkins did not expect the Saints skipper would play in the club's Anzac Day clash with Carlton in Wellington.
"At his age (32) and given the style of footy he plays, he's looking at two or three weeks at the low end for a calf injury," Larkins said.
Ziebell was released from hospital on Monday morning after spending two nights in hospital with bruised lungs.
The North vice-captain was injured after suffering a heavy knock to his abdomen when trying to spoil Wines in the Roos' loss to the Power.
Larkin said Ziebell was unlikely to play this Sunday against Geelong.
"With a bruised lung, the bruising goes away usually in two or three weeks," he said.
"Two nights in hospital is above average, usually it's one night, but it doesn't mean he can't play.
"But he won't be able to train and take knocks in the early part of the week so with a big game on Sunday down at Geelong I think he's a very small chance to play this week."
Jack Ziebell has been released from hospital following this clash on the weekend. Details: http://t.co/gZjQ4Q2g5R http://t.co/DhftMYlRBN
— AFL (@AFL) April 20, 2015
Veteran Bulldogs defender Morris suffered a pectoral tear against Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday.
Larkins said the time Morris was sidelined would depend on whether he could avoid surgery as Hawk James Frawley did last week.
If Morris did not require surgery Larkins said he would miss about six weeks, but if he had to go under the surgeon's knife he would miss about eight to 10 weeks.
Fellow Bulldog Mitch Wallis was also injured in the loss to the Hawks when he suffered a heavy knock to his back.
Larkins said Wallis had "very deep bruising" to his back and could be out for three to four weeks.
Carlton defender Michael Jamison is in doubt for the Blues' clash with the Saints after suffering a shoulder injury in the loss to Essendon on Saturday, Larkins says.
"Michael Jamison has had chronic shoulder problems and he had a significant incident during the game on the weekend where he got a subluxation and was off with a dead arm or 'stinger'," Larkins said.
"There would be a lot of reaction in the shoulder after the game which means the player would be sore for the days ahead.
"Jamison keeps defying the odds by coming up and playing the week after he injures the shoulder but it's a bad sign this early in the season that he's still having trouble with it.
"He'll have to be some doubt over whether he'll get up to play this week."
Larkins also said:
- Essendon's Adam Cooney was likely to miss three or four games with the hamstring strain he suffered in the win over Carlton; and
- St Kilda's Luke Dunstan was in doubt for the Anzac Day clash with Carlton after receiving treatment for a hamstring injury late in the Saints' loss to Collingwood.