Essendon midfielder Heath Hocking will miss six weeks of the AFL pre-season because he needs surgery on a persistent groin injury.
Hocking carried the problem through this season and the Bombers were hopeful that it would settle down with rest.
But the injury flared when Hocking tried to increase his own training ahead of returning to the club for the pre-season.
Hocking will have the surgery on Friday.
Essendon football manager Neil Craig said the aim is for Hocking to play pain-free and be ready for the start of the season.
"We decided to bite the bullet on that one and see if we can get him up," Craig told the AFL website.
"If we have the operation on Friday it still gives him enough time to prepare and hopefully be ready by round one."
Hocking played 22 games this season and won Essendon's best team player award.
The 26-year-old has played 119 senior games since his 2007 debut.
Share
