Collingwood are fearing they will be without forward Brody Mihocek for the remainder of the 2024 season after the Magpies attacker suffered a suspected torn pectoral.
Mihocek came from the ground in the final term of Friday night's two-goal loss to Essendon and did not return, with the Premiership Pie looking significantly hampered on his right side.
Mihocek will undergo scans as early as Saturday, with surgery anticipated for the veteran sharpshooter.
"Brody looks like he's going to need surgery. He'll most likely be out for the season. We've got to get scans to make that officially the case," Collingwood coach Craig McRae confirmed post-game.
"We've played some games this year without Brody. He was out for an extended period with a hamstring injury, you look back at those games and we found a way to score.
"It comes back to not individuals, magnets don't win games. We've got more experience back in our team than we've had in previous weeks, but for some unknown reason in the past couple of games we've looked more disconnected.
"It is not about the personnel for us, it never has been. It's not about who's playing, it's how we play. We've got to get back to playing how we want to play."
The injury woes don't stop there for the refining premiers, with ruckman Darcy Cameron sent to hospital after the game after potentially suffering cracked ribs from a knock.
The Magpies tall left the venue in an ambulance and was sent for scans, with the results said to have cleared Cameron of serious damage, according to 7 Newsย reporter Mitch Cleary.
Darcy Cameron is out of hospital and cleared of serious damage. He has a bruised rib in the same spot as his training hit on Wednesday.
Heโll be assessed during the week before the Pies face Geelong on Friday night https://t.co/8PNoKim4vv— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) July 6, 2024
Cameron isn't in the clear however and will need to prove his fitness ahead of Round 18 when Collingwood face Geelong, while supporting ruckman Mason Cox remains sidelined with a knee injury for at least another two weeks.
Defender Isaac Quaynor suffered a toe issue in the loss to the Bombers and will also be assessed in the aftermath of Collingwood's sixth loss of the year.
Key forward Dan McStay could be in line for his first game since late last year as he inches closer to a return from an ACL injury.
The ex-Lion is a live chance to suit up for Collingwood's VFL side next weekend as he pushes for a late-season comeback after being sidelined in December.
"He is very close," McRae said of his sidelined forward.
"Whether it's next week or the week after, he's very close. It will be exciting to have Dan back. I'm sure everyone will be excited when they see Dan's jumper running around in the VFL.
"Clearly with 'Checkers' out, we're going to need a guy like Dan ready to present. But we're not going to rush Dan in before he's ready because that doesn't make sense."
The defeat to Essendon leaves Collingwood with a chance to fall as many as six spots on the ladder to 12th.
They return to the MCG next Friday to face Geelong in Round 18.
