West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett will avoid a full knee reconstruction and is expected to recover from surgery by the start of the 2017 AFL season.
With Nic Naitanui already ruled out for most of next year with a torn ACL, there were fears Lycett could join him on the sidelines after carrying a posterior cruciate ligament injury for much of the season.
But the Eagles on Friday said Lycett had received good news from surgeons and should be free to line up for round one next year after having an operation next week.