Carlton have come away from their Gather Round bout with West Coast with a pair of injury concerns, with forward pair Harry McKay (concussion) and Brodie Kemp (leg) unable to finish the match.
An inadvertent head clash between McKay and young West Coast midfielder Tom Gross left the former ruled out of returning to the field due to concussion.
A turnover in Carlton's front half saw the Eagles rebound out of defence with pace, with a chain of handballs in quick succession leaving both Gross and McKay following the ball's movement before the two collided in the middle of the field.
McKay looked to have come off second best from the head clash, with the Coleman Medal winner left lying on the ground for some time before being helped to his feet.
The Blues attacker, who returned this week from a spell away from football due to personal reasons, was assisted from the field and underwent further assessment on the interchange.
Harry McKay is off the ground to undergo a concussion assessment after this clash.
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A decision was soon made to sub McKay out of the game midway through the opening term, with the 27-year-old failing a concussion test.
Tactical sub Cooper Lord was brought into the match in McKay's place ahead of the second term.
The hampered Carlton forward managed four disposals, two hitouts and a behind prior to the collision with Gross, who was able to continue in the match.
McKay will enter the mandatory 12 days of concussion protocols, meaning he'll miss Carlton's Round 6 Good Friday game against North Melbourne next week.
Should McKay manage to exit protocols in time, he will next be available for the Blues' Round 7 matchup with Geelong.
Carlton coach Michael Voss said McKay was feeling "OK" after the match and confirmed he'd miss the Roos game.
Kemp suffered an innocuous injury away from play in the final quarter, going down in the front third and holding his leg.
The athletic Blues forward was visibly in discomfort on the ground and eventually received medical treatment, with club trainers helping Kemp from the field.
Carlton were quick to rule Kemp out for the rest of the game, with the club fearing a suspected Achilles injury.
"We're suspecting Achilles, we'll get the scans to confirm that,"
"When you see that action, it never looks great. He's pretty sore at the moment."
Kemp could miss the remainder of the season if the club's worst fears are a reality, with a ruptured Achilles likely to put a line through the 23-year-old's 2025 campaign.
The pair of ailments Voss' forward line is likely to see the Blues call on ley forward reinforcement, with Lewis Young an option. Ruckman Marc Pittonet is ready to return from a calf injury, while uncapped tall Harry Lemmey will also make his case. Jack Silvagni could be thrusted into the forward line if needed also.
Elijah Hollands will also be in the selection mix for Round 6, while Blake Acres is expected to be available after being a late out against the Eagles with illness.
"We've got a couple of players to return," Voss said.
"Not that Pitto is a forward but he comes back as a ruckman. He'll be fit this week, he could've played if there was a game.
"Elijah has had another week of great training under his belt. Acres will be OK, he just had illness and couldn't quite get up."
The Blues will face a fellow 1-4 side in North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Good Friday.
