Hawthorn star Chad Wingard suffered a gruesome tongue injury during his side’s Gather Round clash against GWS.
After landing heavily on the ground in the second quarter Wingard appeared to bite his own tongue and deal serious damage, with blood seen coming from his mouth.
“He’s actually severed the tongue a fair bit … so they need to stitch that and he’s out for the game,” Mark Soderstrom explained on Seven.
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Shaun Burgoyone responded: “From what I gather, he doesn’t wear a mouthguard. If you’re gonna sever your tongue, it means you’re biting your tongue, don’t you?”
But Brian Taylor added: “Let’s hope he hasn’t severed it. It’s just split, I think, maybe.”
Wingard was taken to hospital during the second half.
Geelong fears a lengthy layoff for All-Australian small forward Tyson Stengle, awith a suspected broken wrist suffered on Sunday against West Coast.
Stengle was driven into the ground by Josh Rotham in a tackle during the second quarter and came from the ground cradling his wrist in his jumper.
The Cats subbed him off shortly after.
Post-game it was revealed Stengle had headed to hospital for scans.
The Western Bulldogs are set to be without Josh Bruce for an extended period after the key defender suffered an injury blow on Saturday night.
Bruce was helped from the ground in the third quarter during Saturday night’s loss to Port Adelaide following a collision with Jed McEntee.
He was subbed out of the game and the club confirmed on Sunday afternoon the 30-year-old had returned to Melbourne after suffering “significant injury to multiple ribs”.
Bruce’s return to play plan will be confirmed in “coming weeks”, the club said.
The Bulldogs will travel directly to Perth from Adelaide, with a clash against Fremantle on Friday.
Alex Keath missed Saturday’s match under concussion protocol, but could return to the side’s back six for Round 6.
North Melbourne midfielder Jy Simpkin will undergo surgery on a broken finger on Monday, further souring Saturday’s thumping loss to the Brisbane Lions.
Simpkin suffered the injury in the opening half and was subbed out at half-time, with the Lions storming over the top of their opponents in the third quarter, kicking seven goals to two.
The co-captain missed Round 3 due to suspension.
North Melbourne is expected to provide a recovery timeline following his surgery, but is hopeful he will only miss one-to-two weeks.
Sydney Swans forward Joel Amartey has suffered a likely hamstring setback, adding to the side’s key position woes.
Amartey kicked two goals in the opening quarter of Friday night’s match before his hamstring appeared to give way, with the 23-year-old coming from the ground tearful.
