The top of the table clash between Richmond and Sydney got off to a flying start but it was stopped in its tracks when Reece Conca suffered a nasty injury midway through the first quarter.
Conca's left ankle was caught under him in a Lance Franklin tackle, appearing to suffer an ugly fracture, but later reports suggest the ankle was only dislocated and Conca could possibly return this season.
"I was just up at the Epworth (hospital) and he's in good spirits," teammate Jack Riewoldt told reporters on Friday.
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"We've got a bit of positive news in that we don't think he's fractured his ankle.
"Credit to our medical team and our doc who actually had to realign his ankle, which is a really dangerous procedure that he had to do at the ground.
"It's certainly looking a lot brighter than it was on the ground last night."
The 25-year-old who was playing his 100th game could be heard crying out in pain in the stadium mics.
He was treated on the ground for several minutes before being carted off on a medicab.
Check out the incident below. (Graphic content warning)
Richmond rallied after the injury, kicking four unanswered goals to take an 18-point lead into the first change.
Sydney had started brightly, with Ben Ronke kicking two goals and Lance Franklin landing one.
Every Richmond player gets around Reece Conca after a really unfortunate injury.
— AFL (@AFL) June 28, 2018
Our thoughts are with him. 💛🖤#AFLTigersSwans pic.twitter.com/pJO02i5i4c
All our thoughts with Reece Conca who is being carried off on the stretcher.
— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) June 28, 2018
What he means to the club is evident in every player getting around him right now. #AFLTigersSwans #gotiges
After all the injuries Reece Conca has had... This just sucks. And in his 100th game. Poor bugger. #AFLTigersSwans
— Shayne Hope 📰 (@shayne_hope) June 28, 2018
Fox Footy's Jon Ralph provided an update on Conca at half time, saying the Richmond medicos believed it was a dislocation rather than a fracture.
This would most likely mean a shorter recovery time for Conca who has had a tough run with injury over the course of his career.
