Fears that emerging Saint Ben Paton has broken his leg at during an intraclub match this morning have been confirmed.

The Age's Michael Gleeson reports that the club ha ve confirmed that the 22-year old's leg is badly broken, with X-rays set to reveal if it is two bones broken or just one.

AFL Media's Mitch Cleary first reported the tragic injury news on Thursday morning - with the Saints' practice match suddenly stopped as medicos ran out to care for the 22-year old's leg.

The incident reportedly occurred when Patton was taken down in a tackle by assistant coach Jarryd Roughead.

Paton was taken out of RSEA Park in an ambulance as the intraclub was immediately stopped.

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It caps off a horror injury week for the Saints - with the club announcing yesterday that Rowan Marshall would miss the start of the season with a stress injury in his foot.

It followed hamstring injuries to speedster Zak Jones and Ryan Byrnes in recent days, while co-captain Jarryn Geary won’t return to running for another five to six weeks with a fractured leg.

Paton was selected by St Kilda with Pick 46 in the 2017 AFL draft has played 35 AFL games for the club.

The defender enjoyed a breakout 2020 campaign, playing all 19 games.