Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray faces a nervous wait after West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern was knocked out of Sunday’s AFL pre-season clash.

Gray’s right shoulder made contact with McGovern’s head as the pair contested a loose ball in the first quarter in Leederville.

The Eagles defender lay motionless on the turf immediately after the hit but was able to quickly make it back onto his feet.

However, he went straight to the bench and did not return with the incident to be scrutinised by AFL match review officer Michael Christian on Monday.

McGovern is one of a host of players who suffered head knocks in the opening matches of the pre-season series.

Clubs took no chances with players, with Richmond premiership duo Toby Nankervis and David Astbury, Fremantle’s Cameron Sutcliffe and Essendon’s Zach Merrett and Jake Stringer also suffering blows to the head.

“It was one of those ones where they’re both really important players,” Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said after his side’s 87-point win in Wangaratta.

“Dave is an incredible player, we’ve just got to make sure that he’s right to go (for round one), and Nank is incredibly important as well.”

Stringer left the field with blood streaming from a wound opened up in a head clash.

“He was ok initially but then he felt pretty crook and vague,” coach John Worsfold said.

“So they took him out of the game for precautionary reasons.”

In other injury news, Western Bulldogs veteran Dale Morris will miss up to three months with a partial tear of an anterior cruciate ligament but won’t have surgery.

Adelaide’s Daniel Talia was withdrawn from the Crows side that went on to defeat Fremantle in Strathalbyn with an ankle injury.

The important defender slightly rolled his ankle at a training session but will not need scans.