THE spate of serious AFL pre-season knee injuries has continued, with news that promising West Coast Eagles forward Mitch Brown requires a reconstruction.
Brown hyper-extended his left knee during the third quarter of Saturday's NAB Regional Challenge match against Collingwood in Albany.
His worst fears were realised upon visiting surgeons this afternoon; the 19-year-old has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo surgery on Friday. While the club released no further information, it is considered highly unlikely he will play again in 2008.
Brown will be the sixth player to undergo season-ending knee surgery. The Magpies' Brad Dick suffered the same injury in Saturday's match; on the same day, Sydney teenager Kristin Thornton's season also succumbed to knee damage, joining teammate Nick Malceski on the sidelines for the same reason.
Fremantle midfielder Paul Hasleby and rookie listed-Kangaroo defender Nathan Grima have also had their seasons ended prematurely.