Adelaide co-captain Rory Sloane has been sent to medicos for a diagnosis of an eye injury suffered in Sunday’s loss to reigning AFL premiers West Coast.
Sloane didn’t return to action after reporting blurred vision from a knock to his right eye in the third quarter of the Crows’ 10-point loss to the Eagles.
The medical assessment on Sloane will determine if he will be fit to play against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, a match the ninth-placed Crows must win to remain in finals contention.
Sloane returned to Adelaide on Monday with a black eye, ahead of being sent for diagnosis.
“With a short turnaround (between games) hopefully he is going to be alright,” Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs told reporters at Adelaide Airport.
“He’s obviously a key player for us and one we would certainly love to have this week as it’s an important game.”
The Crows lost their spot in the eight to home-town rivals Port Adelaide, but Jacobs took some heart from the narrow loss to the Eagles.
“We’re still not content with losing by 10 points but it still gives us a good platform to be able to get going for Collingwood and the Bulldogs in the next two weeks,” he said.
“This time of year, it (pressure) obviously heightens but we’re well aware of where sit and at the moment things are still in our control.
“So if we win the next two games we’re going to put ourselves in a really strong position to be able to play finals.”
Jacobs returned to AFL action against West Coast for the first time since injuring a knee in round two – he was kept out of the side by his replacement Reilly O’Brien.
O’Brien’s form tapered in recent weeks, giving Jacobs a recall and the veteran a chance to play his 200th AFL game this weekend against the Magpies.
“I’m just a small town country kid … and to think I’m even this close to 200, it blows my mind,” Jacobs said.
“Hopefully I’m able to do it this week in front of friends and family at Adelaide Oval and I would love nothing more than to get a win against Collingwood.”