Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett will miss the rest of the AFL season after opting to undergo shoulder reconstruction surgery.

The dual Brownlow medallist dislocated his shoulder in the third term of the Suns’ victory over Collingwood on Saturday.

Scans on Monday cleared Ablett of any bone damage, but after in-depth consultations with specialists in Melbourne, the superstar and club medical staff believed reconstructive surgery was the best way to repair the injury.

Ablett admitted the decision was very difficult.

“We have been extremely thorough in our review of the injury, and after careful consideration, reconstructive surgery was the decision to make, but the correct one,” Ablett said in a statement on Wednesday.

“This is the most significant injury of my playing career, and we have made the decision in the interest of my long-term playing career.

“It has been a very difficult decision, in particular as there is a temptation to compromise my shoulder’s long-term movement, in a bid to get back and assist the team to make our first finals appearance.”

The Suns general manager of football operations, Marcus Ashcroft, said the club supported Ablett’s decision.

“As a club we always have the long-term future of our players at the forefront of our minds when it comes to matters like these,” Ashcroft added.

“Gary knows his body better than anyone else, and we know that by having the surgery he will make a full recovery and be back better than ever ready for the 2015 season.”

There were suggestions on Tuesday Ablett was considering having minor surgery on his injured shoulder and be back by round 20 or 21.

It followed a visit to leading surgeon Greg Hoy, the man who rebuilt Carlton star Chris Judd’s shoulder.

Ablett’s availability through the rest of this season is massive for the Suns, who are on track for their first finals appearance, and for Brownlow Medal betting.

Before Ablett’s left shoulder popped out in a crunching tackle from Brent Macaffer, he was the clear favourite to win his third Brownlow.