Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis needs surgery to repair an injured sternoclavicular joint.
The Bombers had been optimistic the dasher would be able to avoid the knife after sustaining the injury early in Saturday night's Dreamtime loss to Richmond but following a meeting with surgeon Greg Hoy it was decided surgery was necessary.
Zaharakis, one of Essendon's best players this season, is set to miss at least six weeks.
Essendon's David Zaharakis applies ice to his injured shoulder on Saturday night.
Photo: AAP
The Bombers are already without forward Joe Daniher, who won't return until after the bye, having not played in a month with a groin issue.
Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs veteran Tory Dickson is due to spend up to six weeks on the sidelines after re-injuring his hamstring in the loss to Melbourne on Saturday. The out-of-contract forward had already missed a chunk of of football following an injury against Fremantle in round five.
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Another setback: Bulldog Tory Dickson.
Photo: AAP
"This is the same hamstring he damaged in the Round Five Fremantle game,” the club's medical services manager Chris Bell said on the Bulldogs' website.
“Were going to have to be conservative in Torys reload in rehab this time and we expect him to miss the next five to six weeks."
Impressive youngster Bailey Dale is more than a month away from returning from his foot injury, but defender Zaine Cordy is expected to be available to take on Port Adelaide after the bye after missing the loss to Melbourne with concussion.
“Once he comes out of the boot well progressively reload his running and monitor his symptoms, and this will give us a more accurate idea of his return to play plan," Bell said of Dale.
Daniel is an Age sports reporter.
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