Adelaide forward Josh Rachele has been substituted out of the match against North Melbourne with a nasty-looking rib injury.
The 180cm Rachele was ruled out midway through the second quarter after being crunched from behind back by 202cm Kangaroos ruckman Tristan Xerri’s knee in a marking contest late in the opening term on the eastern wing.
Adelaide’s Josh Rachele on his haunches after copping a nasty knock against North Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
The heavy contact evoked flashbacks to Christian Petracca’s horrific injury in last year’s King’s Birthday Melbourne-Collingwood clash.
Petracca suffered four broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a small lung puncture after being kneed in the ribs by Magpies captain Darcy Moore.
A grimacing Rachele was helped off Adelaide Oval by club trainers in clear discomfort.
He attempted some run-throughs at quarter-time before retreating back to the home change rooms shaking his head.
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