AARON Naughton is in danger of missing the Western Bulldogs’ elimination final, with the forward needing surgery on a depressed fracture of the cheekbone.
Naughton was immediately taken to a Cairns hospital following a second quarter head clash with Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy and took no further part in the season-defining game.
The high-marking spearhead boarded a flight with teammates on Monday morning bound for the Gold Coast, where he will consult a surgeon.
Naughton is expected to go under the knife tomorrow, when the club will learn the full extent of the injury. Western Bulldogs coach cited former defender Shane Wakelin as someone who played the next week with a similar injury, while Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin missed only a fortnight with a fractured cheekbone in 2016.
But if Naughton’s fracture is close to the eye socket, he will be sidelined for longer, putting his finals participation in jeopardy.
The Bulldogs are confident Mitch Wallis’ shoulder will not stop him from playing in an elimination final against West Coast or St Kilda.