North Melbourne key forward Robbie Tarrant won’t play again this AFL season, deciding to go under the knife in a bid to cure a long-running leg injury.

A tibial stress fracture has plagued Tarrant’s 2014 season, restricting him to one game.

That was two weeks ago in North Melbourne’s loss to Adelaide after which Tarrant pulled up extremely sore.

Calling the surgery short-term pain to achieve long-term gain, Tarrant said he was eager to reach full health.

“I just want to get my body right and have a full tilt at a season… I haven’t had a great run but I’ll remain positive and look ahead with great confidence once we get everything sorted out in the coming days,” he said.

Tarrant said the precise procedure had not been decided, a decision he will leave to specialists.

The 25-year-old has played just 39 games for the Kangaroos since being drafted at pick No.15 in the 2007 national draft.