Gold Coast defender Michael Coad may not play again this season after a scan revealed he will need major surgery to repair a torn hamstring.
Suns' coach Guy McKenna says Coad tore the hamstring off the bone late in the match against Melbourne on Sunday and will be sidelined for a minimum of three months.
Depending how well Coad's recovers after surgery, will determine how soon he can start training although there is the distinct possibility the South Australian may not play again this year.
"Coad will miss up to 12 weeks," McKenna said.
"He's got to have his hamstring attached to his bone, it's got to be surgically repaired.
"It's a nasty one.
"To miss 12 weeks and to get him back for the end of the season, we'll hold that candle for him ... but history is against him."
McKenna explained after the match on Sunday that Coad was a victim of the AFL's new substitute rule as he had no alternative but to send the SANFL veteran back into the field of battle.
Senior coaches have criticised the AFL for reducing the interchange from four players to three players and a substitute this year.
A substituted player can be reactivated, leaving coaches with a maximum of three players to rotate at any one time.
McKenna says that two of his younger players, including 2010 number one national draft pick David Swallow, and Coad are suffering from cramp against Melbourne and he rolled the dice and sent the eldest back on the field.
"It was either him or the two other blokes that were cramping at the time," McKenna said.
"It was either one of the two young blokes or the 27-year-old and it's an unfortunate decision.
"It's not fantastic but what do you do, play one short?"
- AAP
First posted April 19, 2011 15:37:00
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