WHILE Trent Croad’s dislocated wrist was the most high-profile injury of round one, several other teams will be sweating on the availability of key players for next weekend’s matches.

Collingwood’s Sean Rusling will have scans on Tuesday to determine the extent of the latest in a worrying series of shoulder injuries.

The promising forward, who has had his career stalled by shoulder surgery in each of the past two years, was clearly distraught after leaving the MCG holding his left shoulder late in the first half against Fremantle on Saturday.

He had his head in his hands while sitting on the bench after being forced off the ground as a result of heavy hip-and-shoulder from Antoni Grover.

The Magpies were unwilling to speculate on the exact nature of the injury ahead of Tuesday’s scans, but given Rusling’s history, it is a major concern.

He sustained a broken collarbone late in his debut season, 2005, and required shoulder surgery in 2006, managing just five senior games that year.

Rusling then needed a shoulder reconstruction after another injury in the 2007 pre-season, meaning he did not return until round 20 last year. In his fourth season this year, the promising 21-year-old has played just 17 AFL games.

In other injury news from the weekend’s matches, Adelaide midfielder Brent Reilly (wrist) and Western Bulldogs running player Nathan Eagleton (ankle) sustained what are believed to be minor injuries on Sunday.

Geelong defender Josh Hunt rolled his ankle against Port Adelaide on Thursday night, but is likely to play against Essendon next Sunday.

Brisbane midfielder Jed Adcock also hurt his ankle in Saturday night’s loss to West Coast, but is also unlikely to miss any football.

Several big-name players are expected to play their first games of the season in round two.

St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig is almost certain to return from a calf injury, while Cats ruckman Brad Ottens should be back from an ankle injury.

Collingwood captain Scott Burns and Richmond midfielder Mark Coughlan, who both played in the VFL this weekend to regain match fitness as they work their way back from injury, should also play for their AFL clubs next weekend.