A Melbourne superstar will reportedly attempt to play with a broken bone in his foot, while another prolific Demon is thought to be battling soreness ahead of the club's do-or-die clash with Carlton this Friday night.
After narrowly falling to Collingwood in last Thursday's qualifying final, Melbourne faces a must-win semi-final against red-hot Carlton this Friday night at the MCG.
However, the Demons are understood to be slightly hampered in the lead-up to the all-important bout.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn has apparently suffered a broken bone in his toe, though it is not known precisely when the injury was sustained, according to SENย reporter Sam Edmund.
"Max Gawn, the superstar All-Australian ruckman, will attempt to take on Carlton this Friday night in a cut-throat Semi Final with a broken bone in his toe," Edmund said on Tuesday morning.
"All sorts of rumours about hairline fractures in the foot and plantar fascia and whatnot, they've been swirling since Friday.
"But he's definitely dealing with a broken bone in one of his toes. Without getting too technical, it's near where the toe joins the main part of the foot.
"He couldn't have done much more against Collingwood, he was immense.
"I don't know (when it happened), all I know is that it's happened and he's dealing with it at the moment.
"He's definitely got a break in a toe on his foot. It is one of the middle ones, it's not the big toe or the small toe."
Meanwhile, prominent midfielder Clayton Oliver, whose regular season was hindered by a bothersome hamstring injury, is reportedly battling knee soreness.
MAX Gawn will attempt to take on Carlton in a cut-throat semi-final on Friday night with a broken bone in his toe. The break is near where the toe joins the foot. Clayton Oliver dealing with knee soreness, but both are expected to face the Blues.
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) September 11, 2023
Despite the supposed broken bone, Edmund believes Gawn will get up for Friday's monumental clash.
"I think that is the more likely outcome (that Gawn plays)," Edmund continued.
"Clayton Oliver is dealing with knee soreness, [he] has been for a couple of weeks.
"Neither Gawn nor Oliver have trained much since Thursday night. I'm not sure either are in any danger of missing this game, I think they'll play even if it is under some duress."
The Demons have not officially communicated injuries to either Gawn or Oliver.
Melbourne's selected side for Friday night's fixture will be revealed on Thursday evening at 6:20 PM (AEST).
