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AAP
AAP
Sport
Oliver Caffrey

Demons sweat on injuries to Lever, Salem

Demons' Christian Salem ended up on crutches after a first-quarter injury against the Bulldogs. (AAP)

Melbourne are sweating on the fitness of premiership stars Christian Salem and Jake Lever after their AFL grand final rematch victory over the Western Bulldogs.

All-Australian Lever was a late withdrawal from Wednesday night's match at the MCG after tearing the plantar fasciitis in his foot.

Salem injured his knee during the first quarter and was subbed out of the match for Toby Bedford.

The 26-year-old was spotted in the rooms post-game using crutches.

"Christian will have scans (on Thursday) and we're pretty hopeful it won't be too bad," Demons coach Simon Goodwin said.

"We're hopeful it's not the worst possible news, it might be a few weeks, but first indications it's not too bad."

Lever was named in the Demons' team on Tuesday, even though he suffered the injury last Sunday, but was later replaced in the squad by fellow defender Adam Tomlinson.

"It's actually a good thing (he's torn the plantar fasciitis), it gives him a chance to recover because it's niggling him for probably four or five weeks now," Goodwin said.

"We'll let that settle over the next 10 days before our next game (against Gold Coast) so we're hopeful he might be available for next week."

The injury concerns somewhat soured a historic night for the Demons as they unfurled their first premiership flag in 57 years.

In a rollercoaster game not dissimilar to last year's grand final, Melbourne stormed out of the blocks with the first four goals, before the Bulldogs hit back.

The Bulldogs kicked the next eight goals to lead by 23 points during the second term, before Melbourne bounced back and start to their premiership style in impressive fashion.

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