Saints, Cats could both lose AFL stars

St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt and Geelong star forward Tom Hawkins are both in injury doubt for Friday night’s AFL clash at Etihad Stadium.

Both were subbed off after incidents early in this round’s matches, Riewoldt injuring a knee tendon and Hawkins stretchered off with concussion.

A scan during the Saints’ win over Melbourne on Saturday cleared Riewoldt of major structural damage to his right knee.

But he will face further assessment after minor damage was found to a tendon at the back of the knee.

“We’ll follow up and probably have a few more scans but at the moment we’ll wait and see,” Riewoldt told the Seven Network post-game.

Hawkins will need to pass concussion tests this week to be cleared to face the Saints.

Adelaide’s experience with their star forward Kurt Tippett, who has missed three straight games with the after-effects of multiple concussions, shows that is no certainty.

But teammate James Kelly is among several Cats that should return from injury for the crucial meeting with the Saints.

St Kilda need to keep winning to have a chance of climbing into the top eight, while the Cats are yet to completely cement their finals berth.

Kelly missed Friday night’s loss to West Coast with a groin strain, but said he was certain to face St Kilda.

“It was just a bit of a scheduled rest,” Kelly told Seven’s AFL Game Day.

“I was looking to rest at some stage in the next few weeks and it turned out that this week I was forced to rest a little bit, but I’m definitely back next week.”

He said Paul Chapman (calf), Joel Corey (hamstring), Trent West (knee) and Josh Hunt (quad) were also likely to return.

“I think pretty much everyone will be right to go, barring any problems with fitness tests during the week and that sort of stuff,” Kelly said.

Youngster Billie Smedts (calf) is less likely to return.

Collingwood have played down injury concerns to midfielder Dale Thomas, who was subbed out of Saturday night’s clash with Sydney.

While Thomas had ice on his knee, coach Nathan Buckley said it was only a corked thigh that forced him out of the match.

Fremantle are assessing the extent of an ankle injury to their midfield star Nathan Fyfe, who was a late withdrawal before Saturday’s loss to Adelaide after rolling his ankle in his bedroom.

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