MELBOURNE midfielder Jack Trengove will miss the rest of the season after scans on his left foot revealed a crack in his navicular bone.
The 22-year-old reported soreness after playing for VFL club Casey Scorpions on Sunday and scans confirmed the injury on Monday night.
He will have surgery on Wednesday and faces four months on the sidelines, ending his 2014 campaign after just two matches.
The injury is career-threatening injury but the Demons are confident he will be ready for the start of the 2015 pre-season.
The injury is career-threatening injury but the Demons are confident he will be ready for the start of the 2015 pre-season.
"Jack’s attitude has been outstanding this year, particularly in recent weeks whilst playing in the VFL, and for this to happen to him is really unfortunate," football manager Josh Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
"Following his game in the VFL on Sunday, he reported some soreness in his left foot and unfortunately the scans confirmed the bad news.
"He is a resilient character. We expect Jack to make a full recovery, and be available for day one of pre-season training.”
Melbourne players Jack Grimes and Colin Garland have suffered the same injury and both made full recoveries, giving Melbourne a framework for Trengove's rehabilitation.
Trengove sustained a stress fracture in the same foot in December 2012, affecting his 2013 season. However, that stress fracture was not in the navicular bone.
The midfielder, who was recruited with pick No.2 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, has played 81 games from a possible 92 since he made his AFL debut in round one, 2010.
He relinquished his post as co-captain last September to concentrate on his own form.
He was dropped for the first time in his career after round two and has played the past two matches for Casey in the VFL.
It is a fresh blow for the Demons after last week's news of Mitch Clark's retirement as he deals with depression.
In other injury news, Mahoney said highly rated key forward Jesse Hogan remained 2-3 weeks away from returning to football.
Hogan, a powerful key forward who is yet to make his senior debut, suffered a back stress reaction during the pre-season.
It is a fresh blow for the Demons after last week's news of Mitch Clark's retirement as he deals with depression.
In other injury news, Mahoney said highly rated key forward Jesse Hogan remained 2-3 weeks away from returning to football.
Hogan, a powerful key forward who is yet to make his senior debut, suffered a back stress reaction during the pre-season.
