North Melbourne's defensive unit has taken another hit following reports out of Arden Street that veteran backman Aidan Corr has gone down with an ankle injury.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Roos revealed that Corr had injured his ankle during the club's pre-season camp on the Gold Coast.
Since crossing from Sydney's West at the cessation of the COVID-capped 2020 season, Corr has worn the Roo's royal blue and white on 41 occasions, with injury curtailing the lion's share of his 2021 campaign.
And while the former Giant remains a realistic possibility to face his former side in Round 1 of the 2024 season, Corr's latest setback comes at an inopportune time for Alastair Clarkson's side.
Following the departure of free agent stopper Ben McKay during the off-season, plenty appeared set to fall on the shoulders of Corr and ex-Docker Griffen Logue throughout Clarkson's second season at the helm.
However, heading into the Christmas break, both Logue and Corr are stranded on the sidelines, hampered respectively with a ruptured ACL and said ankle complaint.
At present, former Swan and recent delisted free agency selection Toby Pink is acting as North Melbourne's loan key defensive option.
The Roos are scheduled to face Collingwood in an unofficial pre-season hitout at Arden Street on February 21, with a visit to Moorabbin to do battle with St Kilda locked in for March 3.
