AFL 2020: Jonathon Patton injury tragedy vs Essendon

The nightmare is happening all over again for Hawks star Jonathon Patton after he suddenly buried his head into his hands on the field.

Jonathon Patton limped off with a suspected Achilles injury.

The nightmare is happening all over again for cursed AFL star Jonathon Patton.

The power forward limped off the field in the first quarter in the Hawks’ clash with Essendon in Adelaide after he suddenly pulled up lame in the middle of the field.

Fox Footy camera replays showed Patton pulled up on the wing despite not being anywhere near anyone else on the ground.

Just seconds after appearing to suffer a leg injury, Patton immediately bent over and buried his head in his hands — in a similarly emotional moment to his “distressing” hamstring injury earlier this season.

He was immediately taken down to the dressing rooms to be assessed by club medical staff.

He returned to sit on the bench in the second quarter.

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AFL legends Mark Ricciuto and Jonathan Brown both speculated it appeared Patton had suffered an Achilles injury.

Ricciuto said at quarter-time it was “definitely” not a knee injury after seeing the club’s medical personnel discuss Patton’s injury and pointing to the top of the Achilles.

Brown said: “I don’t like to speculate, but quite often you see those are Achilles. You hope it’s not an Achilles.”

Luckless Hawthorn forward Jon Patton is being treated by the club's medical team following this passage. #AFLHawksDons pic.twitter.com/mGrQhnlK1T

— AFL (@AFL) August 27, 2020

Footy commentator Anthony Hudson said: “Oh dear, that can’t be good. He just cannot take a trick, can he? He just cannot take a trick”.

The Hawks announced at half time Patton would not return.

The club believes it is likely a low calf muscle issue rather than an Achilles injury — but the diagnosis will need to be confirmed by scans on Friday.

Patton was only playing just his second game since returning from the hamstring injury he suffered against Collingwood in Sydney.

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Patton broke down in tears against the Magpies after he slid on his knees as he attacked a loose football on the slick Giants Stadium surface.

He stood up awkwardly and then limped to the bench.

Hawthorn's Jonathon Patton in tears on the bench injured during the AFL match between Collingwood and Hawthorn at Giants Stadium.

It was reported by Channel 7’s sidelined reporter and former Swans champion Jude Bolton that Patton was emotional after having his hip assessed by a team medical official. The injury was later confirmed to be a hamstring injury.

Patton has previously suffered a series of long-term knee injuries, crippling his once promising career as the Giants’ first ever No. 1 draft pick.