St Kilda were forced to do something in their loss to Darwin that hadn't happened since 2019 -- play without Callum Wilkie.

Their co-captain had to come off in the second quarter with a back injury and did not return after halftime on Saturday as they lost their first AFL game in Darwin to Gold Coast 13.11 (89) to 8.12 (60).

Wilkie's injury was the Saints' second blow to a top player, after their star onballer Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was a shock late withdrawal because of a lower-leg injury.

Wilkie has a run of 164 consecutive games since his 2019 debut and usually spends little time on the interchange bench.

But his night was soon over after Suns key forward Ben King cannoned into his back in a marking contest.

Coach Ross Lyon said it was too early to say whether Wilkie and Wanganeen-Milera would play next Sunday against Richmond at Marvel Stadium.

"It was interesting to see our team without him - it's going to happen. Hopefully he gets up for Richmond," Lyon said of Wilkie.

It was the first time Wanganeen-Milera had missed a game since 2024.

The Saints coach added that Wanganeen-Milera was recovering from a corked leg muscle and they decided against risking him..

"I thought he'd play, he thought he'd play, he wanted to play (against Gold Coast)," Lyon said.

"There was just a little bit of soreness. He had a scan, a little bit of bleeding, they think it's a 'corky' still.

"But we couldn't make a definitive decision. So we need another week to let it settle."

While the Saints should beat Richmond, they then have a tough stretch against Fremantle, Hawthorn and Sydney.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick said their star midfielder Matt Rowell trained well earlier on Saturday and is confident the Brownlow Medallist will return from injury when they play Port Adelaide next Friday night in Darwin.

"Once again, if it was a final, he probably would have played," Hardwick said.

Rowell's return will be timely, given Gold Coast were badly beaten in clearances against the Saints.

But Ethan Read aggravated a knee injury and is likely to be sidelined for the Port game.

Also on Saturday night, Collingwood captain Darcy Moore was concussed in a heavy collision with Geelong's Oisin Mullin.

That will sideline Moore for next Friday's match against top side Sydney.