Camperdown and Cobden were struck by the curse, none more so than the Magpies who lost Nick Bateman to a shoulder injury sustained in a marking contest just seconds into his 150^th senior appearance. 

For the Bombers it was two minutes before half time when returning forward Nick Harding was helped off the ground on a stretcher with a knee injury.

Magpies’ coach Phil Carse said there were positive signs for his key forward.

“The good news with Nick is the shoulder didn’t pop out and we believe it’s more of a compression injury,” he said after his side’s comprehensive 10.15 (75) to 3.8 (26) victory over Cobden.

“He will still have to get it looked at professionally during the week, but I think it will be more on the short term of how shoulders go.”

Cobden mentor Levi Dare, who received some bad injury news of his own before the game that he had injured his meniscus in his left knee, said Harding’s injury was disheartening for his side, who now have an uphill battle to make finals after recording their sixth loss for the year. 

“It’s obviously disappointing for him and for us, so hopefully it’s not that serious,” he said. “He will go get a scan and we will assess where we go once we know the damage during the week.”

Both sides have experienced bad luck with injury recently.

The Magpies lost in-form midfielder Cameron Spence to a severe facial injury against Port Fairy last weekend and were without key forward Jacob Mahony, who could be out for a couple of weeks with a foot injury. 

The Bombers were without Dare (corked thigh and knee), Paul Hinkley (knee) and Jack Evans (foot), who were added to their already extensive injury list in recent weeks. 

The injuries won’t help Cobden’s aspirations of playing finals as they prepare for a tough month ahead.

“We play Port Fairy, South Warrnambool, Koroit and Terang Mortlake all in the next month,” Dare said of the Bombers difficult run ahead.

“It’s an uphill battle for us. We’ve got to win these games and it’s on us to start winning games against the sides that are above us and bring some better quality footy to the table.”

The Magpies face Terang Mortlake, Warrnambool, North Warrnambool Eagles and Hamilton.