Dees' huge win soured by double injury blow
Melbourne defender Steven May was taken to hospital for precautionary scans after copping a heavy knock to the ribs during the Demons' 55-point win over the Hawks at the MCG on Saturday.
In the closing stages of the second half, May was crunched in a marking contest on the wing with Hawks forward Mabior Chol.
The two-time All-Australian lay on the ground injured after receiving a knee to his rib area as Chol lept for the ball.
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Steven May was subbed out of the Demons' clash with the Hawks after colliding with Mabior Chol in a marking contest. (Fox Footy)"He got the full weight of Mabior Chol," Gerard Healy told Fox Footy at the main break.
"I saw him holding his right shoulder on the bench, but the ribs, will they be bruised? Maybe broken, certainly battered.
"He was in a really bad way, so we'll have to wait and see. He was holding himself in a really uncomfortable manner,"
May was helped to the bench before being subbed out of the match for Marty Hore, and was subsequently transported to hospital via ambulance with suspected broken ribs.
"He's being taken to the Epworth for precautionary scans just to get further details, and we'll find out the long-term effects in the next couple of hours," David King told Fox Footy at half time.
Steven May is tended to by trainers after a heavy collision during the round two AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Melbourne Demons. (Darrian Traynor via Getty Images)Fellow defender Jake Lever also failed to finish the match because of ailment.
Lever was ruled out after injuring his right knee injury in the third term as he landed awkwardly.
"We just don't see the Melbourne back six without these two warriors very often, they both played 71 of a possible 76 games in the last three and a half years," King said.
To compensate, Harrison Petty was thrown down back in his first game this year.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin confirmed that Lever would go for scans on Sunday.
Jake Lever receives treatment after injuring his knee during the Demons' round-two match against the Hawks. (Darrian Traynor via Getty Images)Melbourne burst out of the gates, scoring five goals to nil in the opening term.
Bayley Fritsch finished the match with five goals — four of them coming in the second half to stifle any hope of a fightback from the Hawks as they marginally outscored the Demons in the second term.
Kysaiah Pickett (three) and Kade Chandler (two) also scored multiple goals.
The Hawks gave Oliver plenty of attention as he was handed a heavy bump from Jai Newcombe and tagged by Finn Maginness.
New Hawk Nick 'The Wizard' Watson broke through for his first career goal in the third term after noting 0.3 on debut last round and another three minor scores against Melbourne.
