INJURY-HIT Melbourne’s 2008 campaign has suffered another major blow with key defender Jared Rivers ruled out for the rest of the season with a stomach complaint.

Rivers, 23, has managed six games this season following on from an injury-ravaged 2007 campaign that saw him take the field just three times before succumbing to osteitis pubis.

"Unless there is a magical cure for him, I don't think he will be back playing football this year," coach Dean Bailey told Melbourne newspaper The Herald Sun on Friday.

"It is really disappointing for Jared because he has got some great leadership qualities in him.”

Rivers will take on a coaching role for the rest of the season and has also been elevated to the club’s leadership group.

Since being drafted 26th overall in the 2002 NAB AFL Draft, Rivers has played a total of 70 games and took out the 2004 NAB Rising Star award.

In other moves following a regular player review, Brad Green, Aaron Davey, Brent Moloney and Brock McLean have also been added to the leadership group while veteran Adem Yze drops out along with the retired David Neitz and the injured Russell Robertson.

"Yze was one of the guys who unfortunately when it came to the review, he missed out on maintaining his position," Bailey said. "But his leadership is still there within the club."