Jordon Butts has been diagnosed with a punctured lung after the Adelaide Crows defender suffered breathing troubles following a hit in their win over the Bulldogs on Saturday.

The 25-year-old was substituted out in the first half with what the club said was a chest injury.

It soon emerged Butts required further assessment and was taken to hospital.

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Butts will not travel home with the team, instead told to stay overnight in Melbourne.

“We won’t know any more information until a specialist comes in and checks him out further,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.

Nicks confirmed club officials are in the dark over just when Butts was injured.

Fox Sports only uncovered footage that showed the defender receiving an open-hand shove high on the chest from Bulldogs star Sam Darcy.

Earlier there was some confusion when a person from the crowd appeared to be called on to help out the Crows doctor.

But commentators suggested they were linked to the AFL as part of the fallout to Christian Petracca’s distressing internal injuries suffered in the King’s Birthday clash last year.

Meanwhile, the Crows suffered more injury drama when James Peatling needed to be helped from the ground following a loose sling tackle.

He had his shoulder strapped and returned to the field for the rest of the third quarter.

Brayden Cook was then taken off, having been left shaken by head clash with Dogs big man Rory Lobb as both went for a loose ball.

Lobb played on while Cook was diagnosed with concussion.

His absence left Adelaide a man down on the bench but 100-game milestone man Izak Rankine’s late goal pushed the Crows’ lead out to 27 points at the final break.

The Bulldogs fought hard in the fourth quarter but Adelaide held on for a 16.13 (109) to 15.8 (98) win that solidified their place in the top four.

Crows star Riley Thilthorpe led a day for big men under the Marvel Stadium roof with a career-best haul of six straight goals.

Bulldogs counterpart Aaron Naughton had 5.1 while Adelaide tall Darcy Fogarty kicked 3.3, ahead of Taylor Walker with two straight.