AN ANKLE injury to Western Bulldogs stand-in skipper Easton Wood is threatening to derail the Dogs' season on the eve of the finals series.

The 26-year-old landed awkwardly on his left ankle in the third quarter against Essendon after trying to spoil a marking attempt from Bomber Darcy Parish. 

Wood managed to jog off the ground, albeit in discomfort, and was taken to hospital for scans. 

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said Wood's "forecast isn't great", with an exact prognosis to be known on Monday following the results of scans. 

The Dogs have endured a horror injury run this season, with the likes of captain Bob Murphy (knee), Mitch Wallis (leg) and Jack Redpath (knee) having their seasons abruptly cut short.

Adelaide defender Brodie Smith was left concussed after receiving an accidental kick to the back of his head from the Power's Aaron Young in the second quarter of the Showdown.

Smith was forced to ground after being pushed out of a marking contest from Port's Jarman Impey, before colliding into Young's boot as he fell backwards and landed on the turf. 

The 24-year-old, who suffered two concussions in five weeks last season, was taken off the ground on a stretcher and did not return.

Sydney Swans forward Lance Franklin pulled up sore from an elbow/forearm he received to his left hip from Kangaroo Scott Thompson in an innocuous first-quarter marking contest.

Franklin went down into the rooms for treatment and returned to the field for about one minute, before coming back off after being in some pain and struggling to run.

Franklin began the second quarter on the field and played out the match.

North Melbourne defender Scott Thompson appeared to aggravate his groin injury late in the first quarter against the Swans and was taken into the rooms for further assessment.

The 30-year-old had ice applied on his left groin in the second term and took no further part in the match.

Thompson first injured his groin midway through the final term against the Bulldogs in round 20, which forced him to miss last week's loss to Hawthorn. 

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott was unsure whether Thompson's latest setback was related to the groin issue that sidelined him against the Hawks.

Scans have confirmed Hawthorn's initial fears, with ruckman Jonathon Ceglar rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after landing awkwardly in a spoiling attempt in the latter stages of the third quarter against West Coast. 

The 25-year-old, who was playing his 50th game, hobbled off the ground in the hands of trainers and did not reappear.

In a similar incident just a few minutes later, West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after leaping to spoil the ball in a one-on-one marking contest.

The Eagles confirmed the ACL tear following scans on Saturday, putting a severe dent in their premiership aspirations.

Naitanui was assisted off the field by trainers and was examined by the medicos at three-quarter time, before leaving the ground on crutches after the game.

It was the 26-year-old's third game back after missing eight weeks due to surgery he had to each of his Achilles tendons.

The season-ending knee injury caps a whirlwind week for Naitanui, who kicked the memorable match-winning goal in the dying seconds against GWS last week.

Compounding matters for the Eagles, ruckman Scott Lycett came off the ground late in the final quarter after colliding knee-on-knee with Hawk Ben McEvoy at a centre bounce ruck contest.

The 23-year-old returned to the field to see out the last three minutes of the match, but will be monitored closely over the course of the week. 

In other injuries at the weekend: 

- Magpies forward Darcy Moore's season is over after overstretching his right hamstring while reaching for a mark in the second quarter against Gold Coast. The 20-year-old suffered a minor hamstring setback against West Coast in round 19 and missed the following week as a result. When asked about Moore's injury, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said: "Clearly there's a bit of strengthening to be done there." 

- Saints forward Paddy McCartin's injury-interrupted season has also come to an end after the former No.1 draft pick broke his collarbone in a first-quarter collision with Richmond's Nick Vlastuin. McCartin, who was playing his second consecutive game for the Saints following his third concussion of the year, dived on a ground ball and was collected by Vlastuin. The 20-year-old was awarded a free kick for high contact and courageously converted the set shot – his second goal for the afternoon – before leaving the field supporting his right arm.

- Suns defender Sean Lemmens had to be taken off the ground on a stretcher after being bumped from Collingwood's Jesse White as the pair contested a bouncing ball during the second quarter. The 21-year-old, who received a cut to his chin in the incident, was conscious as he was carted off and gave the crowd the thumbs up as he left the field.

- Blues midfielder Ed Curnow had his left knee strapped in the final quarter against Melbourne after his leg became trapped underneath him in a contest. Curnow will be further assessed in the coming days.

- Just a week after breaking his nose, Bombers defender Michael Hartley again had blood pour from his nose after receiving a knock from teammate Jake Long in a friendly fire incident in the second quarter against the Western Bulldogs. Hartley returned to the field after the medicos stemmed the bleeding. 

- Demons forward Jack Watts received an accidental poke to his eye from Blue Patrick Cripps in the first quarter. Watts returned to the field after receiving some medical attention.

- Magpies midfielder Jordan De Goey received medical attention on his right ankle after it became trapped under a marking contest in the final quarter against Gold Coast. He ended the game on the bench.

- Dockers forward Matt Taberner had his left ankle taped in the final quarter against GWS after it became caught underneath a contest with Giant Nick Haynes. The 23-year-old was cleared of any damage and saw out the match. 

- Power midfielder Brad Ebert required attention for a cut he received to his cheek from Crow Rory Sloane, who attempted to spoil the ball with a clenched fist. Ebert returned to the field after a short spell on the bench.