West Coast midfielder Dom Sheed has undergone surgery on his right knee after being ruled out for the entirety of 2025ย due to suffering an ACL rupture on Monday during pre-season training.
The injury is the biggest blow to Sheed's expansive recent injury history, with the 29-year-old playing just eight matches at AFL level in 2024 as he dealt with a niggling foot injury and multiple hamstring setbacks that impacted his campaign.
Sheed played just 15 matches in 2023, while managing just one in 2022, frustratingly unable to build consistent fitness since West Coast's last year outside the bottom four in 2021.
The midfielder had been building towards a Round 1 appearance after foot surgery in the off-season, but the latest blow has thwarted any hope of Sheed playing at the top flight in 2025.
The ACL rupture will sideline Sheed for approximately 12 months, with the first stage of Sheed's recovery being a knee reconstruction.
Sheed went under the knife on Thursday, and will now begin his lengthy period of rehab.
West Coast footy boss Gavin Bell said the club were throwing their support behind Sheed as he endures another injury blow.
โFollowing consultation with Club medical staff and a surgeon, Dom decided to undergo a traditional knee reconstruction today,โ Bell said.
โAs a result, Dom will unfortunately be sidelined for the 2025 AFL season. The Club will support him throughout every step of his rehabilitation process.โ
Bell was devastated for Sheed when the initial news broke, as the 2018 premiership hero suffered his tear during a seemingly harmless incident on the track.