Emerging Essendon prospect Archie Roberts faces a race against time in his quest to return to AFL action this season, following a shoulder injury sustained in his side's loss to Melbourne on Saturday.
Roberts, 20, fell awkwardly on the joint in attempting to curtail the momentum of talismanic Demon Kysaiah Pickett, and subsequent scans have revealed soft tissue damage was absorbed in the process of the gruesome dislocation.
Essendon communicated that the Hampton Rovers junior is expected to meet with a surgeon later in the week, and a return to play timeline will be communicated after such a meeting.
Elsewhere, veteran swingman Kyle Langford, whose day was cut short by quad soreness, will also be sent for precautionary scans later in the week.
"It's disappointing for Archie, who's been so consistent for us in just his third season at the level," the general manager of Essendon's AFL program, Daniel McPherson, said.
"He will have a surgical consult early in the week, which will help inform the next course of action; that being rehab and return for the back end of the season, or have it surgically repaired now - we will gather all the necessary information before making that call.
"Kyle will undergo scans on his quad as a precaution this week, and we'll provide an update from there."
The injuries balloon Essendon's casualty ward to a barely-precedented 18 names, restricting further Dean Solomon's ability to navigate the side out of their last-placed mire.
