GOLD Coast captain Gary Ablett won't play again this season with scans revealing he suffered a medial ligament tear against Adelaide.

Ablett was substituted out of Saturday's game in the first quarter with the Suns initially believing the injury to his left knee involved meniscus or cartilage damage and would sideline him for three to four weeks.

But Ablett confirmed his season was over early on Monday afternoon.

"I've done some damage to the MCL, obviously the ligament in there. They’re saying about a grade two (tear) which will mean I’ve got to be in this brace for four weeks,” Ablett told the club's website. 

"That probably means I’m going to miss the rest of the season which is a bit disappointing. But that’s the way it goes. I'll just jump into rehab now and get it right for next season."

Leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins told AFL.com.au on Monday the knee injury would not cause any delays to the start of Ablett's pre-season, with the time on the sidelines to provide the bonus of allowing his previously injured shoulder to heal even further.

"In normal circumstances it would be a five-to-six week absence anyway, and then he'd be fine to play. It won't impact on his pre-season next year," Larkins said. 

"He's had a horrible year, but at least we'll see him back with both the shoulder and the knee ready to go."