Scans tomorrow are expected to confirm the left shoulder injury to Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines is serious, forcing him out for the rest of the season.
His shoulder popped out easily in an innocuous bump during Port's 63-point win against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval, and after having it put back in and returning to the field five minutes later, it popped out a minute later when he couldn't hold the ball.
At just 20, and for a shoulder to be dislocated so easily, there could be long-term issues with the shoulder and it is why coach Ken Hinkley stressed no risk would be taken with the return of one of the best young players in the competition.
The injury could seriously dent Port's fragile finals bid. The Power are 12th, virtually two wins behind eighth-ranked Geelong, Adelaide, and a win behind Greater Western Sydney and percentage to Collingwood.
The finals opportunity is there, but Port will have it tough against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Greater Western Sydney at home, Hawthorn at Etihad, Gold Coast Suns (Metricon) and Fremantle at home.
Hinkley admitted Port have not been at their best, but was encouraged by the fact they have won three of their past four games, losing only by three points.
"We know we have given up scores in recent weeks; we have not been playing perfect football, but sometimes you have to grind your way back into form," he said.
"I think they [his players] have stayed competitive throughout the year; we just have not had the ability to be clean. People will say we have been our own worst enemy."
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson believes his young side will take an enormous amount of knowledge from the game.
He was pleased with the fact the Saints and Port had the same number of inside-50 entries, but bitterly disappointed that Port's quality of their ball work was far superior.
"We had 18 entries to nine in the second quarter – 2.6 to their four straight," Richardson bemoaned. "Eight shots for the quarter and we lost it by six points. It's important on the road to get bang for your buck.
"Full credit to Port... we got hunted by Port. That's been our focus to make sure we get after the opposition. It was as if we left it for someone else today too often.
"The younger players can learn a lot from this – you have to. There were many facets of what we did today to suggest we are heading in the right direction."
Richardson didn't hold back about what St Kilda needed to do.
"We got beaten badly at clearance not only in numbers but the quality," he said. "We need to learn how to work harder on the outside. We fumbled way too often. We have got to get better the way we kick the ball to our forwards. They have to get better at working off their men..."
