Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett is reportedly out for the remainder of the AFL season due to a knee injury suffered against Adelaide last weekend.
Ablett was set to undergo scans on the injury on Monday after hobbling out of the Suns’ loss to the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Sports doctor Peter Larkins says those scans have shown a medial ligament tear.
If correct, the prognosis is worst than first feared for the dual Brownlow medallist with the Suns initially hoping Ablett had only suffered meniscus or cartilage damage to his left knee, an injury that would have sidelined him for up to four weeks.
Larkins says while the injury doesn’t need surgery, he believes the club won’t rush the superstar back with their finals hopes already extinguished.
“Gary has suffered a medial ligament tear which doesn’t require surgery,” Larkins told AFL.com.au.
“It would have been a six-week injury at any time and they’re not going to rush him back this home and away season.”
A club spokesman told AAP nothing had been confirmed at this stage.