Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is hopeful that defender Hayden Crozier experienced nothing more than “light-headedness” when he dramatically fainted in the rooms at halftime of their 12-point loss to Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Crozier had to be subbed out of the game as a result of the incident, which brought back scary memories of former Port Adelaide player Nathan Eagleton and ex-St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton, who both collapsed while out on the field in 1999 and 2018 respectively.
However, in a positive sign for Crozier, who appeared to be given oxygen by paramedics, the Bulldogs medical staff think he is OK and he will be monitored by them overnight.
“He just fainted,” Beveridge said.
“We’re all concerned about him … not sure about the reason why but just got light-headed and fainted – the old-fashioned fainted.
“So obviously straight away you make sure that he‘s looked after and I think he’s in good hands.”
Crozier wasn‘t the only injury concern for the Bulldogs, with star forward Aaron Naughton playing with a badly corked calf in the final quarter.
“I thought he might‘ve been out for the game but it was one of those corks that you get when you haven’t got the muscle flexed, so it gets in really deep,” Beveridge said.
“He was able to run and we’ve just got to make sure it doesn’t bleed too much and hopefully he’ll be right next week.”
Beveridge is also hopeful that star midfielder Bailey Smith will be available to face the Swans after he sat out Thursday night‘s game with a hip flexor issue sustained at training.
“He just pulled up a little bit marginal after our main session late,” Beveridge said.
“He was just tight in the hip flexor and our staff thought it was best that he miss (the Carlton game), including him, so hopefully he comes up.”
