Injured Melbourne forward Mitch Clark won’t return to the AFL until at least halfway through the season.
The big man proved an excellent recruit for the Demons last year until a severe foot injury forced him out for the last 10 games of their season.
He returned to play the first four rounds this year, before more foot problems made him miss last weekend’s loss to Brisbane.
The Demons say while Clark’s current injury is different from the one he suffered last year, the screw that was inserted to help repair the initial damage is a major contributor to his current complaints.
He will now have it removed, but that operation will mean another six to eight weeks sidelined, meaning he is unlikely to return until after the Demons’ round 12 mid-season bye.
The Demons said the initial Lisfranc injury had repaired strongly and remained stable.
“Other issues around his foot have contributed to this decision,” Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.
“While this is obviously disappointing for Mitch, and any operation during the season is not ideal, the benefit is that after Mitch recovers he will be able to play the second half of the year and begin pre-season without any further interruptions.”
It’s another big blow for the struggling Demons, who sit second bottom with just one win – over bottom-placed Greater Western Sydney – from five rounds.
They are yet to field ex-Collingwood key forward recruit Chris Dawes, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.
But Dawes could push for a Demons debut against Carlton at the MCG on Saturday, after kicking two goals in his VFL comeback game on the weekend.