Important Essendon duo Travis Colyer and Tom Bellchambers face extended stints on the AFL sidelines after each was diagnosed with a stress facture of the foot.
Livewire midfielder Colyer is unlikely to play again this season after he pulled up sore following the Bombers' 50-point loss to West Coast.
"We did an MRI and it showed a stress fracture, but more importantly he had a hot navicular - where he is not sore - and a small crack at the surface of that," said Essendon doctor Bruce Reid.
"He's got a stress fracture of his fourth (metatarsal), that's eight weeks, ten weeks max.
"But the navicular (bone) must heal properly."
Colyer will consult with a specialist on Tuesday to determine whether he needs a screw inserted to help heal the fracture.
Reid said that the club would take a cautious approach due to the risk of suffering a clean break through the bone.
The 23-year-old has played every match this season for the struggling club that finds itself in 13th spot on the ladder with four wins from 11 games.
Ruckman Bellchambers sustained a similar injury and will be unable to resume training for eight weeks.
"He became sore in the first few minutes of training last week," Reid said. "Scans have confirmed he has a stress fracture of the third metatarsal in his foot."
Coach James Hird raised eyebrows when he dropped out-of-form Bellchambers ahead of the clash against the Eagles, with part-time ruckman Jake Carlisle struggling in his place.
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