St Kilda midfield star Jade Gresham has suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the AFL clash with Essendon.
Gresham had to be assisted from the field by two trainers early in the second quarter of Saturday’s game at Marvel Stadium following an innocuous incident in the centre-square.
The 23-year-old was at a centre bounce when he reached down to attempt to contest the ball- only to pull up short then hit the deck, clinging to his right leg.
Gresham couldn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was assisted off the field and immediately went down into the rooms, with St Kilda quickly activating medical substitute Ben Long.
“Jade Gresham will take no further part in today’s match with an Achilles injury,” the Saints tweeted at half-time.
Fox Sports vision inside the St Kilda rooms at half-time showed Gresham in a moonboot and on crutches.
The dynamic midfielder previously missed the last eight games of 2020 with a stress fracture in his back.
Gresham had enjoyed a superb opening two rounds of the season, collecting 28 and 29 disposals against GWS and Melbourne respectively.