Colac is facing the prospect of being without Jarrod Walters for the remainder of the GFNL finals after suffering a shoulder injury in the final quarter of Saturday’s qualifying final win over Newtown & Chilwell.
Surgery is an option for Walters, who was forced from the ground after a marking contest with Eagles defender Oscar Murdoch just outside the Tigers’ forward 50 at the 11-minute mark of the final term.
The Geelong Falcons premiership player underwent scans on Saturday night that revealed the extent of the damage.
“Jarrod came off and said, ‘Oh, I think it’s just a bit of a stinger type thing’,” co-coach Jason Armsitead said.
“It was obviously a lot more serious than that.
“I think he’s still going through the medicos and the surgeon and all that to finalise everything.
“But, it looks like he probably won’t play for the rest of the year with us.”
Walters played a key role in the Colac midfield in the absence of the suspended Ben McCarthy.
He had racked up 17 possessions, of which 11 were contested, nine clearances and five tackles before getting injured.
“He’s such a great inside, contested midfielder,” Armistead said. “We’re going to miss his 12 to 15 contested ball wins in there.
“Someone has to step in and try and take his place now.”
Ben McCarthy will return from suspension for Saturday’s second semi-final against minor premier St Joseph’s after serving a one-match suspension.
However, Jack Skinner, who was a late withdrawal from the win over Newtown & Chilwell with a knee issue, remains in some doubt.
Colac will also monitor an ankle injury that brought an early end to veteran Kane Smartt’s afternoon.
“We’ve actually had a few guys with ankles this year who, on the Sunday, have been like, ‘Oh, it’s blown up like a balloon’, and then by Tuesday, they’ve trained,” Armistead said.
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