Collingwood will be without Billy Frampton and Lachie Schultz and are fearing that Schultz might miss the rest of the AFL regular season. But Jack Crisp has sensationally avoided suspension and will keep his record games streak alive.
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.
Craig McRae has lost two Collingwood players after their win over North Melbourne. Image: AFL/Getty
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.
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 escapes suspension
Meanwhile, Frampton has received a one-game suspension after committing a dangerous tackle on Matt Whitlock during a controversial goal for North in the fourth quarter. The match review officer (MRO) assessed it as rough conduct with medium impact.
Crisp was facing the prospect of having his consecutive games record snapped, but escaped a charge altogether. The Collingwood veteran laid a tackle on Tom Blamires that saw the North player concussed and ruled out of the game.
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.
But the MRO Michael Christian felt Crisp had no case to answer. “It was the view of the MRO that Crisp does not use excessive force in executing the tackle and that Blamires had both arms free for him to attempt to brace for impact with the ground,” Christian said in a statement. “Notwithstanding the injury suffered by Blamires, Crisp’s actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and did not constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.”
Crisp has played 279 games in a row – the AFL/VFL record.