Carlton defender Sam Rowe will undergo scans on Monday after injuring his right knee in his side’s 35-point AFL loss to Fremantle in Perth.
Rowe injured his knee early in the match, but was given the green light to return to the field late in the first term.
However, his return was short-lived, with Rowe’s knee buckling when he leaned against his opponent as the ball came towards them.
Blues coach Brendon Bolton defended the decision of his club’s medical staff to allow Rowe back onto the field in the first place.
Bolton has his fingers crossed that Rowe hasn’t torn his anterior cruciate ligament.
If Rowe is forced out for a long period, forward-turned-defender Liam Jones looms as the frontrunner to replace him.
Jones has played predominantly as a forward during his 83-game career with the Bulldogs and Blues.
But the 26-year-old has been successfully used in defence in the VFL this season.
Carlton could also be without Dale Thomas for Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
Thomas copped a hip to the head from teammate Alex Silvagni during the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to Fremantle.
The former Magpie had blurred vision after the incident, and was ruled out with concussion for the rest of the match.
Carlton led Fremantle 28-0 during the first quarter.
But they struggled from that point on, especially once the injuries started to mount.
Fremantle kicked 10 of the next 12 goals to secure the 13.8 (86) to 7.9 (51) win, and Bolton was disappointed by his side’s inability to cope with the injury losses.
“We had a lack of rotations, so you have to stay out there longer,” Bolton said.
“That’s a new experience for a young group. They wouldn’t have experienced that before, quite a few on our list.
“So, that’s new, but that’s what you have to work through.
“Our group has to learn how to endure in those times.”