WEST Coast draftee Kurt Mutimer is set to miss the start of the season after undergoing hamstring surgery to fix a damaged tendon.
The strongly built midfielder was recruited by the Eagles with pick No.57 in last year's NAB AFL draft from the Dandenong Stingrays.
He had a slow start to his pre-season before Christmas due to problems with his left hamstring.
Mutimer had re-joined the main group in January but he damaged the hamstring further in the last couple of weeks.
Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo told the club's website on Thursday that surgery was best option.
"Kurt had a small split in the tendon of his left hamstring and we thought it was in the best long-term interests to undergo surgery," Vozzo said.
"He first damaged the hamstring at the AFL draft camp and after aggravating it a couple of times in pre-season we viewed surgery as the best option.
"There was an option to rest for a number of weeks, but there was no guarantee it would solve the problem.
"We see Kurt as a long-term player with the club and although he is keen to play as soon as possible, we will continue to manage his recovery and will not rush him back. He is likely to resume training in about 10 weeks."
The Eagles' WAFL affiliate club East Perth begins the WAFL season on March 19 and Mutimer appears set to miss at least the first month of the season.
