Essendon are likely to have lost running players Brent Prismall and Travis Colyer for the rest of the AFL season with leg injuries.

For the second time this year, the Bombers were two men down by quarter-time after Prismall was stretchered off and Colyer was also helped from the field on Sunday against Collingwood.

It appears Prismall will need the second knee reconstruction of his career, while Colyer has a suspected broken ankle.

The Bombers are holding out a slight hope that the two injuries are not that serious.

"Those two have the potential to be season-ending injuries," coach James Hird said.

The injuries to Prismall and Colyer reignited the debate about the new interchange system.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the loss of the two players so early in the game "slaughtered" Essendon.

In round four, Essendon bravely salvaged a draw against Carlton after Courtenay Dempsey and Jason Winderlich went off with season-ending knee injuries in the opening term.

Kyle Hardingham suffered a corked thigh early in Sunday's match and David Zaharakis hurt his elbow.

Essendon has a long injury list and Hird is hopeful - but not confident - that any of Dustin Fletcher, Michael Hurley, Heath Hocking, Nathan Lovett-Murray and Tayte Pears will return for Saturday night's must-win game against Sydney.

"We hope to get players back, but the way the season has been going, we haven't been getting players back," Hird said.

"We're losing them, rather than getting them back."

Collingwood also lost star midfielder Dale Thomas before the game with a corked thigh.

Another finals contender handicapped by a growing injury list is Fremantle, who lost Rhys Palmer (ankle) and Matt de Boer (knee) in Saturday night's 51-point loss to Hawthorn.

Palmer's injury could end his season, while de Boer is likely to be out of action for several weeks.

Ruckman Jonathon Griffin was also a late withdrawal against the Hawks dueto a hip injury.

He is no certainty to recover in time for Friday night's crunch clash with St Kilda, while Aaron Sandilands (toe) and David Mundy (leg) are not expected back either.

Hawthorn midfielder Sam Mitchell also suffered an ankle injury against the Dockers.

But the Hawks are confident Mitchell will not miss any games and also could regain captain Luke Hodge (knee) for Sunday's Launceston game against North Melbourne.

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