BRENT Macaffer is confident he can return before the end of the 2015 season, as the Collingwood tagger prepares for his second knee reconstruction.
The 26-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the third quarter of Collingwood's win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday evening.
Having already come back from a torn ACL in his left knee in 2012, Macaffer is all too familiar with the journey ahead.
"There's no way around it other than getting stuck into rehab straight away," Macaffer said after scans on Monday.
"Having been through it before, I know what to expect and the hurdles coming up."
Macaffer will have a traditional knee reconstruction and aim to return in the second half of 2015.
Macaffer has had a stand-out year, playing a key shut down role on Richmond's Trent Cotchin, Carlton's Marc Murphy and Geelong's Steve Johnson, among others.
He was also responsible for the fierce tackle that caused Gary Ablett's season-ending shoulder injury.
"Obviously the season has been pushed back a couple of weeks later as well," Macaffer said.
"There's little things there, trying to keep us motivated.
"I'm obviously going to have Matt Scharenberg with me as well so I’ll try to look after him and guide him through it."
Scharenberg, the Pies’ top draft pick last year, injured his knee playing VFL in Bendigo on Friday night.
The pair is just the latest in a raft of serious injuries at the Magpies.
"It's not ideal, it's a bit of a shock with all these injuries that are happening, we’re not too sure what to make of it,” Macaffer said.
Dane Swan and Clinton Young both suffered hamstring injuries against the Giants, and are in doubt for Friday night's clash with Hawthorn.
