GREATER Western Sydney could be without No.1 ruckman Rory Lobb when it takes on Fremantle in Canberra on Saturday.
Lobb was helped from the ground after hurting his left knee in the second quarter of the Giants’ loss to the Swans on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old returned to the field, spending the remainder of the game up forward, but was clearly hampered by the injury.
Lobb will be assessed early in the week.
Should Lobb fail to come up, forgotten big man Dawson Simpson could be called up to play his third game for the Giants since being thrown a free-agency lifeline ahead of the 2016 season after eight years at Geelong.
WATCH: Lobb limps off
Sydney will be sweating on the fitness of Sam Reid, who appeared to injure an upper leg in the win over the Giants in his first game of the season.
The injury-plagued utility finished the game on the bench with ice on his leg.
Geelong’s loss to West Coast in Perth was soured even further, with Gary Ablett (left hamstring), Cam Guthrie (right ankle) and Nakia Cockatoo (left knee) all succumbing to injury.
Ablett hobbled from the ground early in the final term and went straight into the rooms.
WATCH: Gaz hamstrung
Gold Coast will be without Pearce Hanley for some weeks after the dashing defender dislocated the same shoulder (right) that popped out during the JLT Community Series.
"Pearce will get a scan when he returns to the Gold Coast. We’ll assess the results and work with Pearce to agree on the most appropriate course of action," said Jon Haines, the Suns' football manager.
WATCH: Sun's shoulder goes again
Brisbane skipper Dayne Beams, who was a late withdrawal for the Lions in their loss to Port Adelaide due to a virus, is expected to play his 150th game against the Tigers at the MCG on Saturday.
Carlton defender Caleb Marchbank faces an uphill battle to be fit for the Blues’ round four clash with North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday night.
Marchbank hurt his right ankle in a tackle in the opening quarter of Carlton’s loss to Collingwood on Friday night. He returned to the field in the second term, but only briefly, before sitting out the remainder of the match on the bench.
Marchbank was seen limping at Preston City Oval on Saturday when he attended the Northern Blues-Collingwood VFL match.
WATCH: Blues defender suffers ankle pain
Other injury news
- Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines overcame an ankle scare to run out the game against Brisbane strongly.
- No.1 draft pick Cameron Rayner came to the bench in the third quarter with a cut near his eye, but finished the game.
- Melbourne veteran Bernie Vince came from the ground late in their win over North Melbourne, but coach Simon Goodwin said post-match that Vince was suffering from cramp.
- North Melbourne key defender Robbie Tarrant was a late withdrawal because of hamstring tightness and will be assessed.
- Fremantle livewire Michael Walters hurt a hand during his club's win over Gold Coast, but should be fine to face GWS.
- Sydney’s Harry Cunningham appears fine, having limped off the ground with a leg complaint.
- St Kilda forward Tim Membrey was a late withdrawal before the Saints’ loss to Adelaide due to ongoing soreness in his right knee. He will be assessed in the coming days.
- Hawthorn’s Tim O’Brien went into the rooms in the second quarter with a right leg issue returned to play out the game.
- Essendon’s Matt Dea was a late withdrawal due a leg injury that will be assessed. David Zaharakis came from the field with blood pouring from his head, but returned.
- West Coast’s Liam Ryan was on crutches following the Eagles' come-from-behind win over Geelong. Ryan was assisted from the ground after injuring his right ankle in the final term.
