Essendon's Nic Martin won't be able to back up his dazzling five-goal debut performance this weekend after being required to enter the AFL's health and safety protocols.
The West Australian earned the Rising Star nomination for Round 1 - as well as the top spot on the 2022 Rookie Rankings - after a sensational maiden outing for the Bombers, recording 27 disposals and five majors in last Saturday's loss to Geelong.
The 20-year-old will now miss his side's Round 2 clash with Brisbane in what will be another blow for Ben Rutten's selection planning.
Martin will be required to isolate for seven days and will be in line for next week's bout with reigning premiers Melbourne, while every Bombers player and staff are set to undergo rapid antigen testing before training on Thursday.
Rutten will already be without Kyle Langford for the coming months, with the midfield-forward utility set to undergo surgery on a hampered hamstring sustained in Round 1.
Midfield
Disposals
Clearances
Marks
Essendon's attack was already without key quartet Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Harrison Jones, Will Snelling and Jake Stringer for their season opener, with the latter expected to make a return this weekend.
Defender Jayden Laverde is currently listed as a test for the Lions clash after suffering a hip injury in a collision with Geelong star Jeremy Cameron. Fellow defensive duo Zach Reid and Michael Hurley round out the club's casualty ward, with the pair currently more than a month away from returning to action.
Essendon will host Brisbane at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon before clashes with the Demons, Crows and Dockers in the succeeding rounds.
