CARLTON defender Caleb Marchbank has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2019 season after suffering a neck injury in Sunday’s game against Melbourne.

The injury occurred late in the game when Marchbank received a knee to the head in a marking contest.

The 22-year-old reported being in pain and discomfort in the rooms after the game and was promptly sent for scans which confirmed a non-displaced fracture of a vertebrae, located at the base of the neck.

Marchbank met with a specialist on Monday and based on the advice received, the decision was made to sit out the remaining seven games of the season.

This will allow the fracture to heal naturally without the need for surgery.

"Ideally, we throw the challenges to the opposition instead of reacting to them."



There was character, fight, resilience and determination. But with a five-point deficit come the final siren, this is what David Teague had to say about today's game.#BoundByBlue — Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) July 7, 2019

Director of High Performance Andrew Russell said this approach will allow Marchbank to make a full recovery.

“While it is disappointing we won’t see Caleb on the field again this year, our main focus is ensuring we look after his wellbeing and give him sufficient time to recover to get back to his best,” Russell said.

“An injury like this is able to heal naturally without surgery which is a positive, allowing Caleb to be fully fit when he returns for pre-season training.

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“He has taken significant steps forward this year as a player and we look forward to seeing him continue that hard work and develop into an exciting player for our football club.”

Marchbank played 13 games this season, averaging nearly five marks and six intercept possessions a game.

Injured trio Patrick Cripps (foot), Harry McKay (groin) and David Cuningham (knee) are considered strong chances to return this week against the Swans. All three will undergo fitness tests later in the week.