The Gold Coast Suns have been dealt a horrific blow to start the season with 2019 No.1 pick Matt Rowell suffering a knee injury in the season opener against West Coast.
Rowell, who played just five games in his debut season due to a shoulder injury, hurt his left knee when he was driven into the ground in a tackle by Eagle Zac Langdon.
The 19-year-old limped off the field and was replaced by Nick Holman, before being seen in the Suns locker room with his left leg in a brace as he walked around on crutches at half-time.
Despite ex-Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich saying the club was "fearing that it could be a really bad injury", Suns coach Stuart Dew expressed optimism that his star man would not miss the majority of the season.
"It's not serious, serious, but it's serious enough that it'll keep him out for a few weeks," Dew told Fox Footy. "But it doesn't look like anything major."
Dew's message was a welcome relief to football fans who have been waiting to see Rowell after his shoulder injury against Geelong curtailed what had been a brilliant debut season.
"It's hard to get your head around this," ex-Demons skipper Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
"We hope there's a much better result when they do scans, but this young team have looked at him and said 'you're going to lead us forward'.
"He ripped a competition to shreds last year like no other player has for a long time. Now the season's starting and it's brand new again, they're having to deal with those emotions.
"It's a horrible story for Matty Rowell and the Gold Coast Suns and we hope we get a better result at scans."
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