SAM REID is facing a race against time to be fit for the Sydney Swans' finals campaign after he was ruled out for at least six weeks on Monday with a second tear in his left quad.
On Sunday against Melbourne, Reid made his comeback from a five-week stint out with his original quad tear, suffered against Collingwood back in round nine.
But he only lasted around 12 minutes into the opening term at the MCG before sustaining a new tear in the same quad.
With only eight games remaining in the home-and-away season, Reid has an uphill battle to prove his fitness and get back in the team ahead of the fourth-placed Swans' finals series.
"The new tear is a lower grade to what Sam initially suffered against Collingwood five weeks ago," Swans coach John Longmire said in a statement.
"However, given he has re-injured it, we will need to be very conservative with his rehabilitation."
The 21-year-old played 22 games last season, including all three finals, as the Swans won the flag.
Earlier on Monday, teammate Craig Bird expressed his disappointment at Reid's injury.
Bird is no stranger to injuries himself, with recurring stress fractures in his foot threatening to cut short his career before it really got going.
He played 21 games in his debut season in 2008 and 15 the following year before the foot problems began.
But a modified training program and special inserts in his boots allowed him to overcome the issue and play every game last year in the Swans' charge to the premiership.
This week against Greater Western Sydney he brings up game No.100 in the red and white.
"I'm very happy to play 100 games for the Swans," he said.
"There were certain times when I didn't think I was going to make it with a few different injuries, but I was happy to get through that and come out and start playing senior footy again.
"At times I showed I could play AFL football, but I think my fitness was holding me back a little bit.
"It's something I've worked really hard on the last few years and being able to play consistently for four quarters is something I've really strived for."
Bird's talent was always undeniable and he has filled a variety of roles through the midfield and as a lockdown forward.
But he has gone to a new level in recent weeks, including a career-high 33-possession game in driving rain against Carlton in round 14.
That led to him receiving the maximum 10 votes from coaches John Longmire and Mick Malthouse in voting for the AFL Coaches Association player of the year award.
Bird is ranked 199th overall in the Official AFL Player Ratings, up from a season-low of 241 after round eight.
The 24-year-old acknowledges he is in the best form of his career.
"I think so. It's probably the most consistent footy I've played," he said.
"At the start of the year I came back through the twos (after a hip flexor injury in the NAB Cup) and was just trying to find some consistency.
"I think the last few weeks I've been able to do that and put four quarters together and hopefully I can keep that going for the rest of the year."
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_JD
