North Melbourne youngster Ed Vickers-Willis will miss up to eight weeks after suffering a knee injury in round 11 against Richmond.
The 21-year-old will be required to wear a brace on his knee for three weeks after injuring his PCL, however, the club has stated that he won't require surgery.
โNo surgical intervention is needed but we anticipate a stint on the sidelines of between six to eight weeks,โ Northโs senior performance consultant Steve Saunders toldย the club's website.
The running defender had played seven consecutive games with the club after making his debut in round five after being taken with pick No. 36 in the 2014 National Draft.
Meanwhile, 2016 draftee Jy Simpkin is two to three weeks away from a return after making a promising start to his AFL career while Ben Jacobs and Sam Wright also remain at least a fortnight away from senior selection.
โSam is training now and responded well to his last procedure but the rate of progression in the last fortnight suggests he still needs a few more weeks of rehabilitation and strength work,โ Saunders explained.
โBen had played two full games in the VFL and was tracking nicely. He sustained a severe contusion to a tendon in his lower leg in the third game,โ Saunders said.
โThis pain is unrelated to his stress fracture but something we need to manage conservatively given that it is a contusion to the same leg and an associated weakness that may change his gait.โ
The club hosts St Kilda at Etihad Stadium this Friday night after enjoying the week off in round 12.
