Essendon has sent young defender Zach Reid for surgery on a torn pectoral muscle, effectively ending his 2024 campaign.
Reid suffered his latest injury in the VFL on Sunday and had been on the comeback trail from a hamstring strain.
The Bombers on Tuesday made the decision to send him for surgery, expecting Reid will miss 10-12 weeks.
Essendon footy boss Dan McPherson was devastated to confirm the blow.
“’Reidy’ has done a mountain of work to get back to playing after an early season hamstring injury,” McPherson said in a club statement.
“It’s devastating that he now faces another extended period on the sidelines after building a strong block of form in the VFL, which had him on the verge of an AFL recall.
“He is a great person and a highly valued member of our playing group, and we’re all here to support him through this next period of time. He’s still only 22 years old and has plenty of great footy ahead of him, we’re confident his luck will turn and he will be great long-term defender for the Essendon footy club.”
Reid only managed one game in 2024 and has played just nine senior matches since being drafted with pick 10 in the 2020 National Draft, dealing with consistent injury battles in that period.
The club also revealed Darcy Parish will sit out a further fortnight after reaggravating a calf strain. He was expected to return in a month heading into Round 12, with his return timeline now listed at 5-6 weeks.
Mason Redman will join him on the sidelines this week, with the defender suffering a minor hamstring strain.
Kyle Langford (hip) and Todd Goldstein (ankle) are listed as tests.
Essendon could be missing as many as eight players for its King’s Birthday Eve clash on Sunday night against Carlton should that duo not get up.