The Gold Coast SUNS’ horror run with injury continues with Dion Prestia unlikely to return this season.
Prestia had scans on Monday to determine the extent of a knee injury suffered during Saturday night’s game against Collingwood at Metricon Stadium.
Scans revealed a torn lateral meniscus in Prestia’s left knee. The midfielder will undergo surgery in the coming days and will be sidelined for between 12 to 16 weeks.
General Manager - Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, said Prestia would have surgery this week.
"The results of Dion's scans have confirmed a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee and as a result he will require surgery,” Ashcroft said.
"The timeframe that Dion will be sidelined for is estimated to be between 12 and 16 weeks.
"It is obviously an extremely disappointing setback for Dion. He has had a good start to the season and his leadership on and off the ground has grown enormously.”
Prestia now joins midfield quartet Gary Ablett, David Swallow and Jaeger O’Meara on the club’s extended injury list. The midfielders filled four of the top five places in the GC SUNS 2014 Club Champion Award.
“There is no doubt we are in the middle of some adverse times, and that is placing extra responsibility on the remainder of the team. However, we have found some positives during this phase and players such as Jarrod Garlett, Henry Schade, Adam Saad, and Touk Miller have all stood up in their first season of senior football,” Ashcroft said.
A full injury update will be provided in the Optomo Injury Report on goldcoast.com.au on Tuesday afternoon.