Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito faces another 12 months on the AFL sidelines after scans confirmed he requires a second reconstruction on his left knee.
Morabito first tore the anterior cruciate ligament in December 2010, and was close to earning a senior recall before doing further damage at training last Friday.
The 20-year-old’s worst fears were confirmed on Wednesday after visiting a specialist in Melbourne, with the powerful wingman to undergo surgery on Thursday.
“It is bitterly disappointing for Anthony, his family, the club and our members and supporters,” Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond said.
“However, we see Anthony as having a long-term future with the club and remain confident that, with the appropriate recovery and rehabilitation program, he will return to senior football next year.”
Morabito’s return from his first knee reconstruction was delayed by a series of soft tissue injuries.
The No.4 pick from the 2009 national draft played 23 games in 2010, but hasn’t been sighted since.
Fremantle had been banking on Morabito’s return to help the side sneak into this year’s finals.
But with Morabito out of the picture for 2012, more will fall on Nat Fyfe’s shoulders when he returns from injury in a fortnight.
Fremantle sit in 10th spot on the table with an 8-7 record, but are just percentage adrift of eighth spot ahead of Sunday’s game against struggling Greater Western Sydney.
Defender Antoni Grover is a chance to return, but fellow backman Zac Dawson is likely to be given another week to recover from a knee complaint.