Jaeger O’Meara has had successful surgery overnight in Brisbane on the torn patella tendon he injured in last weekend’s NEAFL practice match against the Brisbane Lions.
In devastating circumstances, the emerging star was taken from the ground on a stretcher after an opponent fell across his legs when kicking the ball off the ground.
It was the 21-year-old’s first game back from post-season surgery on both his kneecaps. A procedure that involved both his kneecaps being shaved to bring a halt to tendonitis issues that plagued him throughout 2014.
The injury has been described as freakish and is completely unrelated to his post-season surgery.
Gold Coast SUNS coach Rodney Eade told reporters on Friday that O’Meara’s surgery on Thursday night went to plan, but he definitely won’t play again this season.
“He was operated on last night, the surgeon said it went as well as it was expected to be. Which is good news. He will be able to be back running by about October,” Eade said.
“The good news out of the bad news is his patella tendon was intact, he didn’t sever that, he didn’t rupture that, it actually pulled off the bone. So, that was the extreme force that went through his leg when it was hyperextended.”