Scott Pendlebury's glittering Collingwood career could be over after the AFL/VFL games record-holder suffered a hamstring injury.
The 38-year-old will miss up to three weeks, ruling him out of at least next week's historic wildcard match.
In an added blow for the Magpies, tough defender Brayden Maynard suffered a knee injury at training and is in doubt to return this season, no matter how far Collingwood progress in finals.
"These are obviously disappointing setbacks for both Scott and Brayden," Collingwood football boss Charlie Gardiner said.
"These are unfortunate setbacks especially at this time of year, but Scott and Brayden are absolute professionals and will do all they can to get back as quickly as possible."
Pendlebury was ruled out in the second quarter of Friday night's 63-point thrashing by Brisbane at the MCG with what Collingwood described as a "knee bursa".
But scans on Saturday revealed a hamstring strain that will sideline him for two or three weeks.
It comes at a critical time for the 21-season veteran, who is waiting until the end of year to decide if he plays on in 2027.
If he doesn't retire, Pendlebury has also received an offer from Gold Coast to be effectively an on-field playing coach next year.
Collingwood are carefully balancing how they deal with an iconic player contemplating his football mortality.
Pendlebury was also substituted four-and-a-half minutes into last year's preliminary-final loss to Brisbane with calf tightness.
Collingwood would likely err on the side of caution, desperate to avoid a repeat, even if the Magpies are still in premiership contention when he is available.
The Magpies would have to play five straight weeks of knockout finals to claim the most unlikely of premierships.
"That'll all be weighed up," coach Craig McRae said.
"He (Maynard) might be right to go, but then do we want to take that risk?"
The Magpies were conservative with Isaac Quaynor, Patrick Lipinski and Maynard on Friday night.
All three were expected to return next week, but Maynard is now no chance.
"Brayden unfortunately left the track early this morning during a training session, with scans confirming he sustained a grade-one MCL strain," Gardiner said.
"This is the same knee but unrelated to his earlier injury."
Collingwood also managed the game time of Nick Daicos and Darcy Cameron against the Lions in anticipation of the wildcard game, which McRae insisted felt like a final.
