North Melbourne is anxiously awaiting news on George Wardlaw after the injury-prone midfielder limped from the field during the final quarter of Sunday's 14-point victory over Essendon at Marvel Stadium.
Wardlaw's Knee Injury
Wardlaw hobbled off in "significant pain" after his right knee crashed into the turf during a tackle in what appeared to be an innocuous incident. He managed to get a handball away before briefly trying to get back to his feet, only to fall over. He eventually hobbled off with the assistance of trainers.
"George Wardlaw getting tackled, his knee hits the ground of the turf at Marvel Stadium and he has come off the ground in significant pain," Channel 7 boundary reporter Tom Morris said. "He could hardly put any weight on his right leg. He's now hobbling down into the rooms. That is a disaster for North Melbourne and George Wardlaw, if that's serious."
Return to Field
In positive news for Wardlaw and the Roos, he returned to the field shortly after, with the club stating it was just bruising. However, he appeared in trouble again after executing a brilliant bump on Andy McGrath when the game was in the balance in the final term. Wardlaw emerged from that contest limping.
"He's gone. He shouldn't be there and he just affects the biggest bump of the game at a very important time," Brian Taylor said on Seven. The Roos held a 14-point lead at that stage, which quickly extended to 20 after a Charlie Spargo snap a minute later. Wardlaw then left the field and spent the final minutes on the bench.
Wardlaw's Injury History
The 22-year-old has endured a wretched run with injuries, with hamstring and concussion issues hampering him over the past two seasons. Despite the setback, Wardlaw was in good spirits after the match, posing for photos and signing autographs with fans.
Essendon's Injury Concerns
Essendon also faced injury worries, with Mason Redman finishing the match on the bench. The veteran defender hurt his knee and also felt for his hamstring.
Match Summary
The Roos boosted their hopes of a top-10 finish with a scrappy 14-point victory. In a match that never reached great heights, North Melbourne's class proved too much for the Bombers. Harry Sheezel stuffed the stat sheet with 43 touches, 12 marks and eight tackles, while Caleb Daniel, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Luke Parker all racked up big numbers. Captain Nick Larkey had a rare wasteful performance, managing only 1.5.
