The Melbourne Demons have been dealt a horror blow after Christian Petracca was subbed out with a rib injury during the side's 14.5 (89) – 6. 15 (51) loss to Collingwood.
Petracca copped Darcy Moore's knee to his ribs during a marking contest right before the first quarter ended.
The Demons star was in obvious agony, clutching at his ribs as he struggled to get off the field.
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Petracca was then taken to the dressing room with concern for the Demons, not only in the match but their season as well.
"This is massive from a Melbourne perspective … if it's a serious injury, what is that going to the Dees as they try to claw their way back into the eight?," AFL legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy.
David King suggested the injury could potentially put an end to the Demons' finals hopes.
"You can't help but feel this is their season walking off of the ground here; he's the reason they score, he's the reason their forward 50 corrects," he said.
"The domino affect; the player that replaces him in the midfield or up forward is nowhere near that level… it's pretty much Max Gawn or bust."
Petracca bravely returned to the field for the second quarter before he was eventually subbed out of the match at half-time with Collingwood leading by 27 points at the break.
The Magpies' dominance continued for the rest of the game, however there was one concern with Nick Daicos subbed out in the final quarter with a leg complaint, however he described it as "precautionary" to 7 post-match.
Collingwood's win pushed them back to sixth while the Demons are 10th.
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