Chris Mayne hospitalised after brutal tackle attempt as Magpies deal Blues' finals hopes a major blow
Collingwood veteran Chris Mayne has been hospitalised after suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone in a brutal clash with Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps.
Both players were left visibly rattled from the contest in the fourth quarter at the Gabba when they collided at full speed, with Mayne coming off second best.
Mayne's face crashed directly into Cripps' shoulder, sending him flying back to the turf as play was stopped for three minutes while club medical staff tended to him.
The 31-year-old's effort proved to be inspirational, with his side holding Carlton goalless in the second half to run out 10. 12. (72) to 7. 6. (48) winners at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon.
Chris Mayne is helped off the field by Collingwood trainers after his brutal clash with Cripps Getty
Cameras caught an instant black-eye forming on Mayne's face as he was helped off-field.
"That's unfortunate, but that's the thing about a 6'4" midfielder like Cripps, running with heaps of steam," AFL great Luke Hodge said on commentary.
"And you just see the point of his shoulder gets him right in the beak. Total accident."
Bruce McAvaney added: "You can see already what he's going to look like tomorrow morning."
Following the match, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley revealed the full extent of Mayne's incredibly brave act.
"He's going to hospital," he said.
"He's probably got a fractured cheekbone, that's the early diagnosis, and he was knocked out.
"That's the second week in a row that we've been out here and a contest of his has been really crucial in the flow of the game.
"The bloke continues to put his body on the line and his teammates love him.
"He's not in a great way at the moment, so he's a sore boy."
Mayne laid motionless on the turf after his tackle attempt on Cripps in the final quarter Getty
Mayne's injury was the only blot on an otherwise strong afternoon from Collingwood who emerged victorious despite a host of stars sidelined.
Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom, Jordan De Goey and Jeremy Howe were all unavailable, but it didn't seem to bother Nathan Buckley's men who marched away with a 24-point win.
The Magpies kicked five goals in the second half and kept the Blues goalless in a strong showing ahead of their firming finals bid. It was Collingwood's highest score since Round 3.
The win sees Collingwood leapfrog St Kilda into sixth spot on the AFL ladder, while the Blues' finals hopes are all but over with David Teague's side placed 12th on the ladder and likely needing to finish out the season on a win streak to make the top eight.
