COLLINGWOOD forward Sean Rusling will have scans on Tuesday to determine the extent of the latest in a worrying series of shoulder injuries.
The promising 21-year-old, who has had his career stalled by shoulder surgery in each of the past two years, was clearly distraught after leaving the ground holding his left shoulder 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 Fremantle defender Antoni Grover late in the first half at the MCG.
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.
He has so far racked up just 17 AFL games, with this his fourth season in the AFL.
In other injury news from the weekend's matches, 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.