Sydney veteran Josh Kennedy faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a significant hamstring injury suffered during the Swans' 15-point AFL loss to Carlton.
Kennedy went down clutching his right leg at Marvel Stadium on Friday night after a clumsy spoiling attempt that split open Blues defender Sam Docherty's head.
The incident is certain to be scrutinised by the match review officer, with Kennedy facing a possible suspension for the high hit.
But any ban will likely be irrelevant as the hamstring injury puts the Swans' co-captain out of action.
Kennedy was helped from the field by two trainers and had to be substituted out of the game.
"It was a bad hamstring," Sydney coach John Longmire said.
"I don't think there's any such thing as a good hamstring (injury), but if they say it's a bad hamstring it's going to be quite a few weeks, you'd imagine."
A 15-season veteran, Kennedy turns 34 next month and is 11 games short of the 300-game milestone.
Longmire isn't yet willing to consider the injury could spell the end of the Swans club great's career.
Kennedy will undergo scans over the weekend to determine the full extent of the damage.
"Let's see what happens during the week," Longmire said.
Late in the second quarter, Docherty went back with the flight of the ball for a mark and was clattered into by Kennedy, who had arms raised attempting to spoil the ball.
But he made contact with Docherty's head in a crude collision.
Speaking on ABC Radio's match commentary, AFL coaching legend Mick Malthouse said a suspension is inevitable.
"He's going to get weeks for that," Malthouse said.
"(It was) late, high, severe ... uncharacteristic, because Josh is not like that, but let's look at it away from the name.
"I'd be surprised if he gets out of it with anything less than three weeks.
"I don't think he's going to be on the ground for the next six to eight weeks anyway with a hamstring like that."
Docherty has played every game this season after overcoming a second occurrence of testicular cancer.
Carlton coach Michael Voss lauded the former captain's on-field bravery, as exhibited in the contest with Kennedy.
"The players acknowledged it in the after-match," Voss said.
"We just spoke to him about the effort to firstly go for the ball and then be able get up and keep playing on.
"We shouldn't say that's what we expect with him, but it's becoming the norm.
"He just keeps overcoming any challenges that are coming his way and he's had a great year.
"Players love playing with him and we draw a lot of energy off him."
