Port Adelaide hope Paddy Ryder is available for their must-win match against Collingwood as AFL finals contenders deal with a horror weekend of injuries.
Scans are expected to confirm that luckless Sydney defender Alex Johnson needs a sixth knee reconstruction, while GWS veteran Heath Shaw has not given up on playing again this season despite his own knee injury.
Finals outsiders Essendon have several injury concerns ahead of their must-win game against Richmond and Geelong defender Zach Tuohy is confident a broken bone in his hand will not stop him playing against Fremantle.
Melbourne expect star ruckman Max Gawn to be fit for their big match against West Coast, despite a corked calf clearly affecting his mobility in the loss to the Swans.
Defender Jayden Hunt has re-injured his ankle and forward Jesse Hogan struggled during the match with a foot problem.
Injuries hit Port hard in their crucial loss to West Coast, with forward Charlie Dixon suffering a broken leg that has ended his season.
Dan Houston was cleared of major damage after being taken to hospital with a neck injury, while Ryder aggravated his hip flexor injury.
But the Power hope Ryder can recover in time for Saturday’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
The Giants also lost three players in their win over Adelaide.
Shaw said immediately after the game that he will be out of action for about six weeks.
Apart from Shaw, star midfielder Josh Kelly was concussed in a tackle that is likely to mean a suspension for Crows captain Taylor Walker.
Sam Reid also suffered a hamstring injury.
Essendon were left without any fit players on the bench for the last quarter of Friday night’s win over St Kilda after Brendon Goddard (knee), Cale Hooker (knee), Orazio Fantasia (hamstring) and Adam Saad (concussion) were all hurt.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
And yet Richmond have nearly every decent player available next week? Luck balances out and the Tigers will be ill prepared should they lose a few key players in one game. Heaven help them if one of Rance's dives does his hammy. Rance's diving is so good he was apparently asked recently to go to Thailand to get those kids out of the cave.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
It seems surprising that GWS keep winning their matches... even though they keep getting players injured. Their physios must be working around the clock at the moment! If you can keep the spirit high though... maybe you can still have an amazing run.