In the wake of Harley Bennell's departure from Fremantle after an injury plagued four years, we look back at five careers cut short by injury.
In no order, here are five players whose careers came to an abrupt end for all the wrong reasons.
4. John Coleman - EssendonÂ
Arguably one of the greatest footballers of all time only played 98 games before a knee injury ended his career.
Coleman burst onto the scene in 1949 by kicking 12 goals on debut. His presence in the forward line sent him to stardom unheard of in Victorian football.
He completed his stunning debut season by kicking his 100th goal in the dying stages of the Bombers Grand Final win.
1950 was his most prolific season as he kicked 120 goals and guided the Dons to another premiership.
In his seventh game of the 1954 season Coleman kicked his best tally of 14 goals against Fitzroy. A week later he fell heavily and dislocated his knee in what proved to be his last game.
Coleman kicked 537 goals in 98 games, at an average of 5.48 goals per game. Had he been able to continue that average over 200 games he would have kicked 1,096 goals.
