Just when you thought the Blues' season couldn't get any worse, Carlton defender Lachie Plowman has been stretchered off the MCG with an apparent knee injury on Sunday.
The Blues and Collingwood Magpies took to the 'G to add to one of the competitions' greatest rivalries, and Carlton made early inroads, kicking three out of the first four goals to build a quick 11-point lead.
The Pies hit back late in the first, but it was Plowman's nasty looking injury midway through the second term that had Carlton fans hushed in Melbourne.
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Watch the incident in the video below.
Lachie Plowman was taken off the ground on a cart after injuring his right leg.
— AFL (@AFL) June 24, 2018
Update thanks to @MLC_Australia. pic.twitter.com/xEWm1kg6d6
Plowman was attempting to smother Josh Thomas' ping at goal, but landed awkwardly and came down screaming.
The 23-year-old attempted to walk from the ground, but couldn't manage it himself and had to call for the stretcher.
Fox Sports journalist Jon Ralph later suggested that no ACL damage had occurred, but perhaps there was some bone bruising.
No ACL damage to Lachie Plowman. Some bone bruising. Maybe some medial ligament damage. @davidking34 up close and personal. Two very good 90s defenders. One picked up his man a bit more... pic.twitter.com/fhfEohQTBC
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) June 24, 2018
Carlton fans were cursing their luck via Twitter.
Thoughts with Lachie Plowman. Close to silent in the stands after he went down injured. Few tears from the faithful. Another injury to further compound a tough year. #AFLPiesBlues
— harvway 3 dangerzone (@HarvsK) June 24, 2018
Lachie Plowman being carted off. I feel like I'm jinxing an already struggling side. @CarltonFC #AFLPiesBlues
— Ron Flatter (@ronflatter) June 24, 2018
Plowman wasn't the only Blues player to go down injured on Sunday, with stalwart Levi Casboult being rubbed out before the bounce due to a broken finger he sustained in the warm-up.
Defender Cam O’Shea was named as his replacement.
Matthew Kreuzer also left the field with an ankle complaint and is unlikely to return to the match.
With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Pies had built a two-goal lead.
Tom Williamson, Sam Docherty and Alex Silvagni have already been ruled out for the season for Carlton, who sit 17th on the AFL ladder.
For those who were thinking that the competitive nature had gone out of the contest, just look at the halftime melee that occurred.
Tempers flared at half-time of #AFLPiesBlues pic.twitter.com/MPJ5Bp4H68
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) June 24, 2018
