GEELONG was dealt another massive blow to its big-man stocks on the weekend, with exciting ruck/forward Esava Ratugolea a chance to miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.
Ratugolea was stretchered off after his right leg was trapped underneath his body in a marking contest in the second term.
The 19-year-old will have scans, but the Cats fear he has a broken ankle.
The Cats are already missing key defender Lachie Henderson (knee), while fellow backman Harry Taylor was a late withdrawal from their clash with the Blues because of ongoing issues with the plantar fascia in his left foot.
Esava Ratugolea was taken off on the stretcher after this contest.#AFLCatsBlues pic.twitter.com/u4mrxSKXRh
— AFL (@AFL) May 26, 2018
Richmond could be without full-forward Jack Riewoldt and defender Bachar Houli for Dreamtime at the 'G against Essendon on Saturday.
Riewoldt took little part in the Tigers' win over the Saints after being concussed early in the match, while Houli sat out the second half with a groin issue.
Jack Riewoldt came off the ground after this incident involving Jake Carlisle.
— AFL (@AFL) May 26, 2018
Injury update brought to you by @MLC_Australia. #AFLTigersSaints pic.twitter.com/yy6gieWZNk
Collingwood's Travis Varcoe looks set to miss weeks because of a suspected hamstring strain, which he suffered in the third quarter of Friday night's win over the Bulldogs.
The Dogs will monitor defender Zaine Cordy, who sat out the second half of that game with delayed concussion following a head knock in the second term.
Carlton – already without captain Marc Murphy (foot) for several weeks – will be hoping star midfielder Patrick Cripps comes up for the Blues' meeting with the Swans in Sydney on Friday night.
Cripps finished Saturday's match with a bandage on his upper leg and looked proppy during the final term.
Fremantle will be hoping Aaron Sandilands boards the plane to Melbourne for the Dockers' clash with Collingwood on Sunday.
Sandilands left the field in the final quarter after a head clash with North Melbourne’s Sam Durdin and never returned.
Aaron Sandilands and Sam Durdin both went off to the bench after this head clash.
— AFL (@AFL) May 27, 2018
Update thanks to @mlc_australia. #AFLFreoNorth pic.twitter.com/MYQamlQt0n
Similarly, the Kangaroos will monitor Durdin, who didn’t come back on, ahead of their Sunday afternoon meeting with Brisbane.
Reliable Adelaide defender Luke Brown faces the prospect of more time on the sidelines, after he didn't play after quarter-time of the match against Melbourne because of concussion.
The Crows may also be without Paul Seedsman when they welcome the Giants to Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The dashing midfielder was a late out in Alice Springs, after he suffered another adductor injury – a problem that twice set him back last year – in the warm-up.
In other injury news:
- Emerging Brisbane defender Matt Eagles is expected to miss a couple of weeks with an abdominal issue, which he sustained in the first half of the Lions' loss to the Swans on Saturday night.
- Gary Ablett complained of a sore right elbow during the Cats' win over the Blues, but he played out the match and it doesn't appear to be an issue. Jed Bews was split open after an errant elbow from teammate Zach Tuohy in the final quarter.
- Sam Kerridge limped from the ground late in the second quarter because of a corked shin, but managed to get through the game.
- St Kilda's Brandon White spent about two quarters on the bike grinding out a corked thigh, and eventually returned to the field late in the contest. Luke Dunstan spent some time on the bench because of a sore right shoulder.
- The Kangaroos will keep a close watch on Kayne Turner, after he was involved in a head clash with Alex Pearce in the third quarter. Turner returned to finish out the game.
- Tim Taranto finished the game on the bench nursing a quad injury, but Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron said it was precautionary.
- During West Coast's win over Hawthorn, Dom Sheed split his head open and Brad Sheppard cut his thumb, but both finished the game without concern. Nic Naitanui (back) and Chris Masten (right hamstring) had treatment during the game, but played on.
- Melbourne defender Neville Jetta clashed heads with teammate Jake Lever in the opening term of Sunday's big win over Adelaide, but played out the match.