By Matt Burgan 12:09 AM Sun 29 Mar, 2009
Saint spearhead Nick Riewoldt limps off late in the game on Saturday night
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ST KILDA defender Raphael Clarke could be sidelined for up to four matches after he suffered a hamstring injury in the win over the Sydney Swans at Docklands on Saturday night.
Clarke, who shone for the Saints in last year's finals after a tough battle with injury, illness and some personal problems, left the field during the third quarter of St Kilda's 15-point victory.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon conceded it was disappointing for 23-year-old.
"We'll assess it and it was his good hamstring and I thought he was critical in the second quarter turnaround," Lyon said.
"But we're confident in our conditioning staff and our rehab to get Raph right.
"Raph's been written off before with injury and soft-tissue and what not and queried and questioned, but he's come through and delivered, so I don't see why he won't do it again."
Lyon also said skipper Nick Riewoldt "cramped severely" in the final quarter and said there wasn’t any further damage to his pre-season knee injury.
"Nick certainly wanted to come back on and he was keen to come back on," Lyon said.
"As the game got tighter, the temptation was there to put him back on, but he wasn't happy, but we're paid to manage our players."
Lyon also confirmed ruckman Michael Gardiner and versatile tall Sam Gilbert were not injured. He said Gardiner was simply tired and Gilbert was suffering from cramp.
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