The Gold Coast Suns are sweating on the fitness of skipper Gary Ablett ahead of Saturday afternoon’s clash with Adelaide at Metricon Stadium.
Ablett was left dazed after copping a head knock in a collision with Matthew Buntine in the final minutes of his side’s 91-point loss to Greater Western Sydney.
The two-time Brownlow Medallist was concussed in the incident and also fell awkwardly as his left leg buckled underneath him.
Suns coach Rodney Eade was relieved the 32-year-old escaped major injury.
“I was scared it was a knee, but no it’s a head knock he got a slight concussion, if it has been in the first quarter he would have been off as well but it looks like he will be okay,” Eade said.
Ablett is among a range of injury concerns facing Eade’s Suns heading into Saturday’s clash with the Crows.
Young defender Adam Saad also went down against GWS with a hamstring complaint after reporting discomfort during the warm up.
Gold Coast is already missing several first-choice players including Jaeger O'Meara, David Swallow, Michael Rischitelli, Matt Rosa, Trent McKenzie and Rory Thompson.
"Some troops will return but we're losing more on the run as well,” Eade said.
"I thought this was the low ebb, but with more today, next week might be the low ebb."
The club’s NEAFL team played with only seven listed players last weekend and was a man short after injuries to Danny Stanley and Luke Russell, underlining the Suns’ injury woes.
Eade conceded that his club may be forced to field young players sooner than he had hoped.
“There’s a kid of Queensland, young Jesse Joyce, was probably close to best player [in the NEAFL], he’s not ready for senior footy but we might have to play him,” he said.
“It’s not fair on the kid but we may have to play him.
“That’s going to be a positive in the long run but it’s going to be tough on him initially.”
