Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield will be sidelined “indefinitely” after being sent in for surgery on a syndesmosis tear in his right ankle.
The Cats had been mulling whether he needed to go under the knife but confirmed the decision on Wednesday night.
“Scans revealed a syndesmosis injury,and it was felt the best course of action was for Dangerfield to undergo surgery,” the club said in a statement.
“Dangerfield will be out of action indefinitely,with his rehabilitation and recovery from the injury determining his return to play.”
Dangerfield had his injury assessed three times before having surgery,the second of which was done in Sydney.
The initial assessment in Melbourne had shown encouraging results but further investigation provided a different report,revealing damage to the syndesmosis joint,which is the joint between the fibula and tibia.
It left the eight-time All-Australian facing either rest or surgery,with expectations the surgery could sideline him for up to two months.
The third assessment was in Melbourne on Wednesday.