Esava Ratugolea suffers horror leg injury
Promising Geelong forward Esava Ratugolea has been taken to hospital after suffering a horrific leg injury in a marking contest at Kardinia Park.
Play was stopped with the Cats leading Carlton by nine points early in the second quarter.
Ratugolea crashed a four-man pack but was shoved underneath as teammate Patrick Dangerfield landed on top of him.
The injury was to his right leg, with Geelong reporting a suspected broken leg and possible damage to both the tibia and fibula.
Injury update: Esava Ratugolea has been taken to hospital with a suspected break to his lower leg.#AFLCatsBlues #WeAreGeelong
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) May 26, 2018
The 19-year-old was tended to immediately by club doctors, given a ‘green whistle’ painkiller, before being driven off the field on the medical cart.
Ratugolea gave a wave and thumbs-up to the home crowd as he reached the boundary.
Fans were quick to send their well wishes to the rising star:
Prayers to Ratugolea, you absolutely hate to see that.. #futurestar
— Popcorn Time (@ndeandrade2) May 26, 2018
Oh man Ratugolea. Hopefully he’s not in too much pain
— Gemma (@glbastiani) May 26, 2018
What a shame that injury to Ratugolea. He’s been one of the exciting players to explode this season. Hope it’s not as bad as it looks #AFLCatsBlues
— Warwick Janetzki (@WarwickJanetzki) May 26, 2018
Thoughts go out to Esava Ratugolea. I hate leg injuries #aflcatsblues
— Luke (@Eljaywight) May 26, 2018
Shattered for Ratugolea, wishing for a speedy recovery. #AFLCatsBlues
— Lela (@LelaDuspara) May 26, 2018
Thoughts are with Ratugolea. Never good to see any player go down! Let’s hope the rest of the game is injury-free! Go Baggers! @CarltonFC @GeelongCats @AFL #AFLCatsBlues
— Remy Adams (@remy_adams14) May 26, 2018
More to come…