NORTH Melbourne could be without injured forwards Robbie Tarrant and Robbie Nahas for the rest of the season, but has received better news on Andrew Swallow with the skipper a chance to play the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
Tarrant pulled out of North's round 14 team last Saturday after experiencing soreness in the lower leg that has this year limited him to one VFL game and one AFL game, against Adelaide in round 13.
Tarrant's injury was diagnosed as a tibial stress reaction in March, after having been previously diagnosed as a nerve-related injury in 2013, when it sidelined him for nine consecutive games.
North football director Geoff Walsh told the club's website on Monday that Tarrant was considering a range of treatment options after consulting a specialist.
"It's a unique set of circumstances and we'll take the next few days to decide on what the best path forward for him is," Walsh said.
"We have a number of things to consider and the decision will ultimately be Robbie's to make."
AFL.com.au understands Tarrant's continuing problems are being caused by a small section of bone in his tibia that has not healed despite the Roos' conservative rehabilitation program for Tarrant.
The most likely option now appears to be surgery. If Tarrant decides to go under the knife, he could conceivably return before the end of the season, especially if North makes the finals.
But given Tarrant's lack of match practice and the time he now faces on the sidelines, there is a good chance he has played his last game of 2014.
Nahas' promising first year at North could also be over after he had surgery on his right shoulder on Monday.
The former Tiger was injured in a tackle against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, with scans revealing damage to his AC joint.
"The best case scenario would be to have him back within six to seven weeks at this stage, which means he could be back in action late in the year," Walsh said of Nahas' injury.
But Swallow received better news after undergoing scans on the left knee that was twisted in a tackle by Demon Dean Kent late in the Roos' win.
Sunday's game was just the sixth the North skipper had played since his return from a ruptured left Achilles tendon and North supporters would have been concerned when he limped to the Roos' bench.
Walsh said Swallow's knee had been cleared of structural damage, but there was fluid around the joint.
"We'll be treating Andrew very cautiously this week to see how he pulls up," Walsh said.
"He'll be given up until the last minute to prove his fitness for the game against the Lions."
