A return-to-play timeline has reportedly been revealed for ailing Carlton key forward Harry McKay, who was substituted out of the Blues' convincing victory over Port Adelaide after suffering a knee injury.
During the first quarter of action at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, McKay appeared to land awkwardly on his right leg following a marking contest on the wing.
McKay was assisted from the ground and, following an assessment by Carlton's medical team shortly thereafter, the key forward was ruled out of the remainder of the game. Paddy Dow, the Blues' tactical substitute on the afternoon, was injected into the action.
Blues star Harry McKay's day is done after this moment on the wing ๐
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Fox Footy's Jon Ralph has revealed McKay's precise injury, as well as the estimated timeline for a return to the field, reporting the big Blue is battling a meniscus ailment.
"Carlton is confident Harry McKay has dodged ACL damage but he still might be out for the rest of the home and away season," reported Ralph on Sunday.
"Scans will tell the tale today, he's had them, [and] they'll diagnose them in the next 24 hours, so no ACL damage, but the meniscus issue is the most likely outcome.
"He damaged the meniscus in Round 8 last year, [and] only got back in Round 13, that time included a bye, so maybe five or six weeks (is how much time he could miss), so Carlton have West Coast and Collingwood ahead.
"They (Carlton) might have to get to September without him."
Jon Ralph provides an update on Harry McKay and Zak Butters ๐ข
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Speaking on ABCย radio on Sunday, Voss himself ruled out the worrisome ACL concern for McKay, allowing Blues supporters to breathe a sigh of relief.
"We can certainly say the ACL's not a factor," Voss said on Sunday.
Carlton coach Michael Voss said injured forward Harry McKay is set to undergo scans tomorrow on his knee, but that fears of a serious ACL injury are unfounded.
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Post-game on Saturday, Voss declared that while the Blues don't initially think the injury is serious, the crucial key forward will receive scans to determine the severity.
"Well, he's hobbling around in the changerooms, we'll obviously wait until Monday to get the scans, and we'll follow it up from there," Voss said on Saturday when addressing the media.
Voss added the Blues aren't yet certain about the specific injury McKay suffered, but was confident enough to state it was a knee issue, not an ankle concern.
"I'm not even sure necessarily what the initial prognosis [is], so we'll wait to get it scanned and we'll obviously find out what the damage is from there," Voss continued.
"No (it's not an ankle injury), [it's a] knee. He wasn't able to get going again (after succumbing to the ailment) so we had to take him out of the game.
"No, early diagnosis, no (not serious), but it's one of those ones where we'll wait until we get the scans and we'll get the full [amount] of information and feed it out from there."
The Blues also figure to lose defender Jordan Boyd to suspension ahead of Round 19's matchup with West Coast, as he is likely to be cited by the MRO for a dangerous tackle that resulted in a concussion for Port Adelaide defender Darcy Byrne-Jones.