Collingwood are facing the prospect of being without Jack Crisp, Billy Frampton and Lachie Schultz and are fearing that Schultz might miss the rest of the AFL regular season. Crisp and Frampton will attract scrutiny from the match review officer, while Schultz suffered what appears to be a syndesmosis injury in the Pies’ 13.11 (89) to 12.13 (85) win over North Melbourne.
Schultz limped off with an ankle injury in the second quarter on Friday night. He received treatment in the rooms and then attempted to run on the sidelines, but immediately went to the back of the bench and played no further part. Speaking after the game, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said it looks like a syndesmosis injury and Schultz will get scans to determine the severity.
Craig McRae could lose three Collingwood players after their win over North Melbourne. Image: AFL/Getty
A syndemsosis injury often requires surgery, which would carry a 6-8 week layoff. With just six weeks until the finals, it could mean Schultz doesn’t play the rest of the regular season. However surgery might not be necessary and the forward could make a quicker return if so.
Lachie Schultz could miss the rest of the AFL regular season. Image: Getty
Jack Crisp in danger of having record streak snapped
Meanwhile, Crisp and Frampton could both face suspension after committing dangerous tackles. Frampton will draw scrutiny for his hit on Matt Whitlock during a controversial goal for North in the fourth quarter, while Crisp is facing the prospect of having his consecutive games record snapped.
The Collingwood veteran laid a tackle on Tom Blamires that saw the North player concussed and ruled out of the game. Crisp has played 279 games in a row (the AFL/VFL record), but will see it snapped if he’s banned.
“If he’s tackled him and he’s been concussed, obviously there’s something to answer for,” McRae admitted. “But that’ll be disappointing.
“I thought Jack had a great game. Critical moments. It’ll be a big loss, and he hasn’t missed a game for so long – he’ll be shattered. That’s a record that’s his for a long time.”
Under the AFL’s bid to protect players from head injuries, any tackle that causes a concussion generally results in a suspension. Kangaroos forward Paul Curtis has only just returned from a controversial three-week ban for a heavy tackle that left West Coast player Hamish Davis with concussion.