Adelaide's run of pre-season injury concerns has continued, with key defender Mark Keane stretchered from the training track on Friday with a fractured leg.
Footage at West Lakes required medical treatment on the ground after hurting his leg during match simulation, with the Irishman consoled by teammates as he was assisted from the field.
Keane will undergo surgery in the coming days, with the Crows to have a better understanding of his return timeframe following the procedure.
"Scans have revealed that Crows defender Mark Keane has suffered a lower leg fracture that will require surgery," a club update read.
BREAKING: There is another huge injury blow for the Crows with defender Mark Keane stretchered off the training track with an ankle injury. @7AFL pic.twitter.com/eXFOYoTryL
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) February 6, 2026
"Keane injured his right leg in a marking contest during today's match simulation at West Lakes.
"The club will be in a position to communicate details around his rehabilitation and return to play timeframe in coming days."
Senior coach Matthew Nicks confirmed a vague timeline for the emerging star on Friday.
"Look as far as I'm aware to this point, it's around 3 or 4 months," Nicks told Rowey & Timmy G on FiveAA.
"It was a bit of a dog of a day, unfortunately. The boys trained really well, four quarters of match play but it was one of those unfortunate ones you don't want to happen.
"Keane had a collision and in the end he's fractured his lower leg... He's pretty disappointed at the moment.
"There's still some details to get, he'll go in and have surgery and get that done as soon as we can."
The setback comes just over a fortnight after young gun Dan Curtin's recent knee dislocation, with surgery ruling the former top 10 pick out of the first several rounds of the coming season.
A significant setback for Keane would come as a blow to the reigning minor premiers, who saw the 25-year-old enjoy a breakout year in South Australia last year.
Keane played all 25 games under Matthew Nicks in what was just his second full season at AFL level, having managed 31 career games prior to the campaign.
The key defender earned a selection into the All-Australian squad, having flourished in a role on the Crows' last line alongside Josh Worrell, who was also named in the AA shortlist.
Adelaide's pre-season is set to see the club take on Port Adelaide and Fremantle for tune-up matches prior to a Round 1 bout with Collingwood at the MCG.
