Carlton’s tough win over North Melbourne has come at a cost, with a fractured foot to sideline star ruckman Tom De Koning until the end of the home-and-away season.

The 25-year-old had scans on Monday morning after spending the night in hospital due to a collapsed lung. He is recovering well from the lung issue, but the foot injury is expected to take up to six weeks to heal.

The second-placed Blues remain optimistic that De Koning will be available for finals if they qualify and his recovery goes well. He will be further assessed in the pre-finals bye.

He suffered the internal injury near the end of the tight match and after revealing he was short of breath about half an hour after the game was sent straight to hospital.

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He was treated overnight, is making good progress and will make a full recovery.

The 25-year-old has become one of the game’s premier ruckmen in the past 18 months, so his loss would have a big impact on the club’s run into the finals.

De Koning received treatment for the foot injury but returned and had a huge influence in the third quarter as Carlton turned the match around having trailed the Kangaroos at half-time.

His absence would open the door for Marc Pittonet to assume the rucking duties in the lead-in to the finals with the Blues facing Port Adelaide this Friday night.