Veteran St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary has suffered a suspected broken leg in an incident during an intra-club practice match at RSEA Park.
The 32-year-old has been sent by the Saints to hospital for scans after the defender needed assistance to come from the field after the incident.
St Kilda are expected to provide an update on Geary's condition once the results of his assessment are made available.
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It's not the first time Geary has been struck down by this type of injury, with the 204-game player suffering a fractured fibula in 2019, not long after he picked up a horror corked thigh that required hospitalisation and surgery.
Geary played 16 games in 2020 and formed a crucial part of the Saints team that qualified for their first finals series since 2011.
In the qualifying final victory against the Bulldogs, Geary was one the best players on the field, blanketing dangerous rebounding defender Caleb Daniel, while also chipping in with two important goals.
His performances during the back end of 2020 earned a one-year extension to his contract that was due to expire at the end of the season.
Geary has been the leader of St Kilda since the role was passed on by club legend Nick Riewoldt for the start of the 2017 campaign.
The veteran Saints reached his 200-game milestone for the club last season after being drafted at pick 58 in the 2017 rookie draft.
However, the development of Jack Steele both on and off the field in 2020 has seen calls for the midfielder to be installed as the Saints' next skipper.
St Kilda are yet to announce their 2021 leadership group but Geary is expected to remain skipper, with Steele a likely addition after his breakout season.
Last year's leadership group included Geary, vice-captain Seb Ross, Tim Membrey, Jack Biillings, Bradley Hill and Dylan Roberton.
The Saints are set to host Geelong in their only pre-season match at RSEA Park on March 4.
Their home-and-away campaign kicks off with a March 21 trip to Sydney to face the GWS Giants at the Sydney Showgrounds.
