Carlton need all the help they can get at the moment so Matthew Kreuzer barely playing any part against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night was the last thing they wanted.
The ruckman came off the ground just a few minutes in to the game, with commentators struggling to work out what the issue was.
Rumours began circling that the Blues medicos had asked for assistance from paramedics located at the ground.
Channel Seven reported Tom Browne eventually caught up with Carlton footy manager Andrew McKay at half-time.
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McKay said Kreuzer was taken from the ground after he had trouble breathing but wasn't taken to hospital.
"He wasn't attended to by the ambos but he's got shortness of breath," McKay said.
"We're not exactly sure why at this stage, he's fine, but he won't take any further part in the game.
"He says he got a knock but we're not sure at this stage, he couldn't get his breath back, so certainly taking it very precautionary, treating it very conservatively, hence he won't take part in the rest of the game."
Matthew Kreuzer will take no further part in tonight's game.#AFLSaintsBlues
— AFL (@AFL) July 13, 2018
🎥: @7AFL pic.twitter.com/ppi1IxGzuL
From there it didn't get much better for the Blues, who were handed a 64-point loss by the 15th-placed Saints.
Patrick Cripps played almost a lone hand, picking up 35 disposals, 23 of them contested.
For St Kilda, Jack Steven had a field day with 33 and two goals in the midfield, while Tim Membrey and Jack Newnes helped themselves to three goals each.
If last week's loss to Brisbane wasn't enough to resign Carlton fans to the wooden spoon, Friday night's result leaves little room for optimism.
While St Kilda have now won three of their last four as they look to finish the season on a roll.
