Collingwood youngster Finlay Macrae will be sidelined for at least three months after the club sent him into surgery to fix a troublesome shoulder.
After a specialist review, Macrae is likely to miss 12 to 16 weeks, which encouraged the midfielder to undergo stabilisation surgery this week.
The 23-year-old has been battling the injury throughout the entire season, featuring in only two VFL games thus far, with the latest against Brisbane seeing a recurrence of the injury.
Macrae was looking for more senior opportunity but has found emerging youngsters Ned Long, Ed Allan and Lachie Sullivan ahead of him.
He is contracted until the end of 2026.
As revealed earlier in the week, captain Darcy Moore is sidelined for Friday's Anzac Day clash due to symptoms relating to vertigo.
Moore copped a knee to the head in last week's victory over the Lions, but coach Craig McRae said he passed all necessary concussion tests, but still experienced an inner ear issue.
Vice-captain and star on-baller Nick Daicos will take his place as skipper.
Pressure forward Lachie Schultz is also making positive progress from his hamstring injury, and is expected to be available to take on Geelong in Round 8.
Veteran Tom Mitchell has returned to full team training as he attempts to overcome a persistent foot injury that has plagued him for the better part of 12 months.
Mitchell will be managed over the next two weeks, but will increase his loads during that time, with a timeline for a return clear after the training block.
