Essendon coach Brad Scott says the club fears the worst after debutant defender Lewis Hayes appeared to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Bombers' win over Sydney on Saturday.
The 20-year-old key back had impressed in his debut prior to the injury, recording 16 disposals, but an awkward landing in a marking contest in the third quarter saw the youngster needing assistance to come off the Marvel Stadium turf.
Scott said post-game that Essendon were "almost certain" Hayes had ruptured his ACL, adding a fourth key position player to the list of season-ending injured Bombers.
Key forward Tom Edwards and ruckmen Nick Bryan and Sam Draper have all endured similar fates earlier this season, with the former pair also tearing their ACL while Draper ruptured his Achilles.
Debutant Lewis Hayes has come off the ground following this incident.#AFLDonsSwans pic.twitter.com/IRaCFNajs2
โ AFL (@AFL) May 10, 2025
"Unfortunately, and we'll wait to absolutely confirm, but it's almost certain that he's done an ACL as well," Scott said.
"I don't know how you handle all of this, other than to say that when you face adversity, you've got to come through it. But I can't remember a time from my time in footy where it's just week after week that this has happened.
"We've had five debutants this year and, with the way it looks at the moment, we'll have some more.
"We've got to really quickly move on to the silver lining, which is opportunity for the rest of the list. We think we've got some other players in the VFL that are ready as well.
"But it's just devastating for 'Hayesy', because he's worked so hard for this opportunity and he took it. I thought he looked right at home.
"The positive is that he'll rehab that knee, if it is what we think it is. He knows, and I've told him, that there's no doubt now. He knows he can acquit himself really well at AFL level."
The Bombers have thrown their belief behind veterans Todd Goldstein and Peter Wright as they deal with the long-term blows to their emerging talls, and could turn to blood some more youngsters this season.
Vigo Visentini has continued developing as a ruck in the VFL, averaging 31.5 hitouts per game, while second-round draftee Kayle Gerreyn could be another rookie key defender the Bombers turn to in their time of crisis.
Essendon now sit inside the top eight after Saturday's win, with a challenge against the Western Bulldogs to come in Round 10.
