Adelaide Oval has seen its fourth serious knee injury in just three games, although Crows wingman Paul Seedsman did not suffer an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against Geelong as was initially suspected. Key points: The Adelaide Crows are waiting for scans to confirm that winger Paul Seedsman has torn the ACL in his left knee The Adelaide Crows are waiting for scans to confirm that winger Paul Seedsman has torn the ACL in his left knee Seedsman hyperextended his knee landing from a marking contest against Geelong at Adelaide Oval Seedsman hyperextended his knee landing from a marking contest against Geelong at Adelaide Oval He became the fourth player to injure his knee in AFL or AFLW games at the ground in the last three weeks Seedsman was injured in the closing stages of the fourth quarter of Adelaide's 24-point loss to the Cats at home on Friday night. Despite being cleared of an ACL injury, he joins Crows defender Tom Doedee and Adelaide AFLW players Erin Phillips and Chloe Scheer, all of whom suffered a serious injury playing at Adelaide Oval in the past three weeks. The Adelaide Crows medical services coordinator Steve Saunders said Seedsman sustained significant injury to capsular and bone structures. "We will know more as to time frames for Paul as we assess his clinical progress over the next 5-7 days," Saunders said. The week following Doedee's injury, the Crows' AFLW team had two players rupture their ACLs during the grand final win over Carlton. Phillips, the best on ground in the grand final, who went on to win the AFLW's season best and fairest, damaged her knee after trying to change direction in space at Adelaide Oval. Erin Phillips' AFLW grand final came to an abrupt end when she tore her ACL in the third quarter at Adelaide Oval. ( AAP: Kelly Barnes Her teammate Scheer also picked up a serious knee injury in the same game and both women were later diagnosed with torn ACLs. After the game against Geelong, Adelaide coach Don Pyke said he was frustrated by the injury blow but stopped short of laying the blame on the oval's surface. "He's shattered, as you can imagine," Pyke said. "I don't know, at this stage I'd say it is [bad luck] but again I'm not sure if someone's going to have a look at the ground and conditions. "It may be just footy — [but] I'd like to see it stop happening to be honest. "Unfortunately now we have Tom and potentially now Paul that are going to miss the season, which is disappointing for those two guys. "Especially early in the year when you put all the work and energy into getting yourself ready for the season, to then to have that rug pulled from underneath you is shattering for both them as for us as a group." Loading Seedsman hit the headlines last week for his 70-metre torpedo kick after the half-time siren, which scored a goal for Adelaide against the Sydney Swans. Now, however, Seedsman faces an extended period of time on the sidelines after he landed and hyperextended his left knee in a marking contest. Speaking on ABC Grandstand, former Carlton captain Marc Maclure raised the surface as a potential source of the problems. "It's extraordinary. The grounds are too firm and too good," he said. "Sometimes having a little bit of movement in the surface does not cause a drama … but they [the AFL] have to have perfection." Doedee earned a Rising Star nomination last season, and was the eventual runner-up behind Jaidyn Stephenson from Collingwood. He signed a two-year contract extension at season's end and was seen as a key player at the heart of Adelaide's backline for 2019, but his year was ended in round one when he injured his knee turning while attempting to tackle Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead. Doedee was one of a number of AFL players who posted on social media following Seedsman's injury. Loading<doc-sep>Paul Seedsman is taken off the field. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) Adelaide winger Paul Seedsman has suffered a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. The 27-year-old was injured in a marking contest in the final minutes of the Crows’ loss to Geelong. Seedsman was on the ground for several minutes before being taken off on a stretcher, with immediate fears of an ACL injury. In classy scenes, both Adelaide and Geelong players went to the Crow to console him. Post-match, the Crows confirmed they believed Seedsman had suffered a serious knee injury. “Crows wingman Paul Seedsman has suffered a suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Adelaide’s loss to Geelong on Thursday night,” the club said in a statement. “Seedsman experienced a significant hyperextension of his knee in the final quarter and was stretchered from the ground. “The Club will provide further information in its post-match injury update.” The Crows suffered a 24-point loss to the Cats. Seedsman played 49 games for Collingwood between 2011 and 2015 before crossing to the Crows at the end of 2015. He has had an injury-interrupted career but came off a 19-game season in 2018.<doc-sep>Paul Seedsman’s luckless AFL career has continued, with another knee injury striking down the Adelaide wingman. There were fears Seedsman had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late in Adelaide’s 24-point loss to Geelong on Thursday night. However Adelaide say the 27-year-old has avoided an ACL tear after he underwent scans on Friday. Seedman’s mishap follows the same injury to his teammate Tom Doedee in the opening round. Paul Seedsman goes off injured. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos/Getty Images) “Unfortunately we now have Tom and potentially now Paul we are going to miss for the season,” Pyke said on Thursday night. “It’s disappointing for those two guys, especially early in the year when you have put all the work and energy to getting yourself ready for a season. “That sort of rug pulled from underneath you is shattering for both of them and us as a group.” Amid the devastating scenes was a stunning moment of sportsmanship as a number of Geelong players came over to console Seedman as he was being taken from the field on the medicab. Paul Seedsman was stretchered off late in the last quarter. Classy response from both his teammates and the Cats. #AFLCrowsCats pic.twitter.com/vx6DR64kfp — AFL (@AFL) April 4, 2019 Shocking night for Crows The loss of Seedsman, who has fought numerous injury battles in playing just 90 games in eight seasons, compounded a grim night for the Crows, who have now lost their two homes games this season. Adelaide slipped behind early with co-captains Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane, and then 256-gamer Bryce Gibbs, all giving away 50-metre penalties in the first 10 minutes of the game. Geelong directly converted goals from the latter two penalties, with Pyke criticising the lack of discipline of his elder statesmen. “It’s frustrating,” he said. Story continues Tom Stewart of the Cats consoles Paul Seedsman. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images) “Our first goals (against) were avoidable. “You can’t start a game by handing away three goals to the opposition, especially quality opposition like we had. “That is disappointing. That just puts you on the back foot.” with AAP<doc-sep>
UPDATE Good news for Crows fans - Adelaide have confirmed Paul Seedsman has not injured his ACL. In a statement released by the club on Friday afternoon, the club confirmed Seedsman avoided damage to his ACL, but he wasn't off scot-free. "We were obviously concerned for Paul given the nature of the injury," Crows Science and Medical Services Coordinator Steve Saunders said. "Follow-up examination post game was more encouraging than initial assessments and imaging undertaken today has proved good news for him. "He has not injured his ACL. Paul sustained significant injury to capsular and bone structures that required MRI to understand these better. We will know more as to time frames for Paul as we assess his clinical progress over the next 5-7 days." The latest on Seed's injury 👇 #weflyasone — Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) April 5, 2019 EARLIER Adelaide Oval again held its collective breath as Seedsman went down with a suspected ACL injury on Thursday night. Late in the Adelaide-Geelong clash, Seedsman rose high for a mark - however, when he came down, he hyperextended his left knee. The game ground to a halt as a medicab collected Seedsman, who was consoled by players on both teams. Seedsman will undergo scans in the coming days, but Adelaide coach Don Pyke feared the worst - just a week after Tom Doedee also suffered a season-ending injury. MORE: Melbourne tanking scandal: Secret documents reveal damning allegations However, Pyke refused to blame the Adelaide Oval surface for the injuries that soured Thursday's game and last Sunday's AFLW grand final. Last weekend, eventual best-on-ground and AFLW best-and-fairest Erin Phillips suffered an ACL injury in her side's grand final win over Carlton. It came shortly after Crows teammate Chloe Scheer did the same, both injuries played out in front of a record crowd. Through the disappointment, Sunday's crowd gave Phillips a rousing send-off - but fast forward to Thursday, and the oval again sighed as Seedsman was carted off the ground. Watch Seedsman's incident in the player below. Paul Seedsman was stretchered off late in the last quarter. Classy response from both his teammates and the Cats. #AFLCrowsCats pic.twitter.com/vx6DR64kfp — AFL (@AFL) April 4, 2019 "He’s shattered as you can imagine," Pyke said of Seedsman. "I’m not sure if someone is going to look at the ground or conditions, it's maybe just footy. I’d like to see it stop happening to be honest. "Unfortunately we now have Tom and potentially now Paul that’s going to miss the season which is disappointing for those two guys. "Especially in the year when you put in all the work and energy into getting yourself ready for the season, to then have that sort of rug pulled from underneath you is shattering for both and for us as a group." An update on Seed 😢 #weflyasone — Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) April 4, 2019