ST KILDA is leaving the door open for desperately unlucky captain Jarryn Geary to return this season as he sets himself for a fourth operation in 2019 for a broken left fibula.
On a dreadful Sunday for the Saints, the tough defender was injured while kicking his own leg when wrapped up in a chasedown tackle from Port Adelaide young gun Connor Rozee.
FANTASY FORM WATCH Is it time to trade Cripps?
That capped a trip to China that saw several players fall ill before Port Adelaide thumped St Kilda by 70 points at Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium.
Geary had just made a remarkable recovery, 43 days after his side's round five win over Melbourne when he suffered compartment syndrome in his right thigh that required three surgeries.
He returned to Melbourne on Tuesday morning.
Jarryn Geary shows off his scar after surgery for compartment syndrome. Picture: Michael Willson, AFL Photos
Football manager Simon Lethlean suggested the 30-year-old could take to the field again this season.
"After consultation with doctors and specialists, we believe surgery is the best option for Gears," Lethlean told saints.com.au.
"It's extremely frustrating and disappointing, especially given Jarryn's professionalism throughout his recent rehab and determination to return to playing, but incidents like this are the unfortunate uncontrollable reality of football.
"At the moment, it's looking like an 8-10 week recovery period, but we'll know a bit more after the surgery."
WHO MAKES FINALS? Do the 2019 Ladder Predictor
Finals seem unlikely for the Saints, sitting 5-6 with a percentage of 85.6, but they do have a favourable run home, coming up against each of the bottom-six sides based on how the ladder currently stands.
