Veteran Melbourne forward Ben Brown is facing an injury-interrupted pre-season after surgery to his troubled knee is expected to halt any such training until post the Christmas break.
The premiership spearhead was unavailable for a handful of games during the 2022 season, with both injury and selection playing a part in his absence in the Dees' side throughout the year.
Brown bettered his efforts from 2021 piling on 30 goals for the season after a troublesome period on the sidelines watching on with knee complaints to blame.
News Corp is led to believe the back-end of the year is when Brown raised some issues with the knee in question and ongoing treatment was required to help ease the pain in the latter stages of the season.
Teammates at Gosch's paddock are anticipated to be joined by the 29-year-old early into the new year with reports Brown will be on light duties up until that point as a precautionary measure.
Second-year key forward Jacob Van Rooyen at the ripe old age of 18 will relish the window of opportunity gifted to him to latch onto some pre-season action, learning at the feet of new recruit Brodie Grundy.
Grundy signed with the red and blue during trade period, bolstering the Dees ruck stocks with Captain Max Gawn at the forefront, and will be eager to get started with a fully fit Brown included in fresh game plan simulations.
