WESTERN Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri will miss the rest of the 2017 season with a hip injury.
Crameri had surgery earlier this week, which was considered successful, however he has been ruled out for the remainder of the year.
The club is confident the 28-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of this season, will be available for the start of the 2018 pre-season.
"While the surgery to improve Stewart's hip was quite extensive, we are confident that it will dramatically improve Stewart's function and performance," Bulldogs medical services manager Chris Bell told the club website.
"It's disappointing for both the club and Stewart, but we will support Stewart and put a comprehensive rehabilitation program around him to give him every opportunity to have a full pre-season campaign heading into 2018."
Crameri played the opening two games of the 2017 season before experiencing hip soreness, and missed all of last season after he was banned for being part of the Essendon supplements program in 2012.
