Tom Doedee's AFL comeback has been cruelly denied after the Brisbane Lions recruit tore his anterior cruciate ligament for a third time ahead of his side's grand final rematch with Collingwood.
The Adelaide pick-up was set to return from his second ACL rupture in Thursday's high-stakes Gabba clash - a timely addition given injuries to fellow backs Keidean Coleman and Conor McKenna.
The 27-year-old will now join them on the sidelines and possibly require surgery after an "innocuous" incident in the final moments of Tuesday's training session.
Scans confirmed a partial tear in his right ACL, the same one he ruptured last season while playing for the Crows.
"It's incredibly heartbreaking for Tom, and everyone at the club is really feeling for him," Lions football boss Danny Daly said.
"Sport can produce some of the most amazing moments, but in cases like this it can also be extremely cruel.
"Tom is a fantastic person who has already become a highly popular member of our club, and everyone was excited to see him so close to making his comeback."
Doedee, who played in the Lions' VFL team at the weekend, will consult a surgeon to determine his best course of action.
"He has shown he is the ultimate professional by doing everything he could to recover from his (torn) ACL, which we have all admired, and I have no doubt he will treat this injury the same," Daly said.
"Everyone at the Brisbane Lions will continue to give our full support to Tom and his family."
The Lions copped a brutal opening-round blow when they coughed up a big lead to lose by one point to Carlton, Coleman's own ACL tear compounding the pain.
They were then outplayed in Perth by Fremantle and, after a bye, face premiers Collingwood (0-3) with both sides seeking their first win of the season.
