Melbourne Demons defender Adam Tomlinson could be poised for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after this unfortunate injury blow.
Melbourne Demons defender Adam Tomlinson has been left тАЬabsolutely shatteredтАЭ after suffering a suspected ACL injury during Sunday afternoonтАЩs match against North Melbourne.
Early in the first quarter at HobartтАЩs Blundstone Arena, Tomlinson went down clutching his left knee after making inconspicuous contact with Tom Campbell.
Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
The 27-year-old was immediately helped off the field by trainers, and the Demons activated Nathan Jones as their medical substitute soon after.
тАЬHe went down straight away, put his hands up for the trainers, went down into the rooms,тАЭ Fox Footy reporter Kath Loughnan said.
тАЬThey did the relevant tests, and he emerged from that room visibly distraught and came back onto the boundary with his tracksuit on.тАЭ
Cameras captured a teary-eyed Tomlinson struggling to control his emotions as Melbourne teammates comforted him in the dugout.
тАЬYou can see the impact itтАЩs having on his teammates,тАЭ Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy.
тАЬHeтАЩs putting on the brave face, out there encouraging at the (quarter-time) huddle, which is a brilliant thing to do тАж they are all making a point of going over to him.тАЭ
The Herald SunтАЩs Jon Ralph tweeted: тАЬAdam Tomlinson absolutely shattered. Looks to have done his ACL.тАЭ
The AdvocateтАЩs Alex Fair posted: тАЬThat was really tough to watch Tomlinson on the bench following his injury.тАЭ
Three-time All-Australian Gerard Healy explained how TomlinsonтАЩs injury could impact the Demons line-up over the coming weeks.
тАЬThe question is now how do they go about realigning their defence? TheyтАЩll want to keep Jake Lever as the interceptor,тАЭ Healy told Fox Footy.
тАЬFrom what IтАЩm told, Harrison Petty is one theyтАЩre really keen to get into the team but they just havenтАЩt been able to find a spot for him.
тАЬItтАЩs amazing how sometimes the footy gods smile on one person and are against another. Harrison Petty, it may just be the opportunity for him to come in and make his mark.тАЭ
Demons fight back after early scare
A major upset loomed in Hobart when North Melbourne raced to an early lead in its round seven match.
Currently sitting in bottom spot of the AFL ladder with zero wins, the Kangaroos seemed destined for a crushing defeat against the undefeated Demons, but quickly proved pundits wrong.
North Melbourne clinched a 19-point lead at halftime, threatening to pull off arguably the biggest upset of the season.
But the Demons proved their class in the third term, kicking five consecutive majors to go ahead on the scoreboard.
Melbourne held a 12.7 (79) to 10.6 (66) lead at three-quarter time.
