Dockers’ Rory Lobb suffers ‘cruel blow’ in pre-season injury

The Dockers bid to end a five-year finals drought has seemingly already taken a major hit after a brutal injury blow hit hard.

Fremantle have suffered a series of scares in the first quarter of the pre-season clash against the West Coast, but the injury toll has piled up with a series of massive blows.

While West Coast won 9.13 (67) to 8.9 (57) over Fremantle, the injury toll for both sides will be more of a concern than the result with the season a fortnight away.

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Dockers fans had their hearts in their mouths when two-time Brownlow winner Nat Fyfe went from the field with a lower leg complaint.

While it didn’t appear too serious as he returned to the field soon after, but the same couldn't be said for ruckman Rory Lobb, who was in a bad way after he was tackled awkwardly onto his right leg.

But it was just the start of it with Michael Walters and Bailey Banfield injured for the Dockers, while Zac Langdon and Brad Sheppard for the Eagles went off the field.

Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said Lobb reportedly had pain on the outside of his leg, which could be a nasty sign of an ACL injury.

“We’ve just have to sit back and hope for the very best for this bloke because he’s such a pivotal player, it’s a cruel blow at the start of the season,” he said on Fox Footy.

He added the crush injuries, such as the syndesmosis injury was on the rise.

The doctors took him straight down to the change rooms after the injury but re-emerged on the bench with ice strapped to his leg.

Rory Lobb has had a tough break.

In the second quarter, he had changed and had crutches with the Dockers confirming he “has sustained a knee injury and won’t take any further part today. He will be sent for scans to determine the severity”.

I’s a bitter blow for the 28-year-old.

Rory Lobb done. Knee iced up. Not ideal with Sean Darcy still out with a knee. Big opportunity for Lloyd Meek.

— Steve Allen (@ScubaStv) March 7, 2021

Rory Lobb in huge strife as he is helped off with a knee injury after it buckled on him early v West Coast. Gerard Healy hoping it's only a bad medial ligament sprain on @FOXFOOTY commentary.

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) March 7, 2021

As the game went on, the carnage continued with Walter appearing to sustain a hamstring injury as he went for a mark, while the Eagles’ Zac Langdon was taken off with a stretcher after a sickening headclash with Fyfe.

Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich said it was “sickening scenes” when Langdon was taken off while it appears to be a concussion rather than a serious break.

Zac Langdon left the field on the medicab.

But under new concussion rules, it appears to be something that will take a few weeks.

In the fourth quarter, Sheppard appeared to dive at the legs of Banfield.

Sheppard’s head was split open but Banfield limped off the field with the commentators saying he was lucky not to have a broken leg.

They join a growing injury list from the pre-season week with the Magpies copping a double blow in Will Kelly and Steele Sidebottom, while Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee will need foot surgery to fix an issue with a joint in his foot, despite scoring two goals with the injury in the 17.14 (116) to 6.9 (45) win over the Crows on Sunday afternoon.

Originally published as Dockers’ Rory Lobb suffers ‘cruel blow’ in pre-season injury