MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Rory Thompson of the Suns gestures in his 100th game behind Ben Brown of the Kangaroos during the 2018 AFL round 16 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Gold Coast Suns at Etihad Stadium on July 08, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Gold Coast will be without key defender Rory Thompson for the entire 2019 season, after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at training on Friday.
Thompson went in for scans following the incident at training, which showed the ACL tear in his left knee.
“It’s unfortunate for Rory, as he’d put together a really strong pre-season which has seen him complete the majority of the program,” Gold Coast's General Manager of Football Operations Jon Haines told the club's website.
“Rory is a much loved member of our playing group, we’ll make sure the Gold Coast family will support him thoroughly throughout the recovery process.
“After playing 17 games last season and having some great consistency throughout the pre-season we were looking forward to Rory playing a key role for the club down back this year.
“As an entire club, we’ll make sure we get behind Rory to help him get through the next 12 months.”
The 27-year-old played 17 matches last season after playing seven the year prior, but will now need to watch on from the sidelines in 2019.