North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo will miss a large chunk of the 2015 season after being informed he will have to undergo surgery on an injured hamstring.
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Dal Santo limped from the field in the latter stages of the Kangaroos’ 82-point win over Brisbane on Sunday and is expected to be out of action for three months.
The former St Kilda star will undergo surgery on Thursday, with North Melbourne football director Geoff Walsh saying it was the best course of action due to the nature of the injury.
“Nick injured his hamstring high-up in his left leg where the muscle joins the tendon,” Walsh said in a club statement.
“We felt that a full recovery from conservative management of this type of injury would be unpredictable and questionable so to ensure a much better outcome for Nick, our medical team opted for surgical intervention.”
Walsh said that while the loss of Dal Santo was a major blow, it presented an opportunity for another player to step up in the role.
“It’s obviously a big loss and Nick is a quality player but it presents an opportunity for one of our other players to step up and fill the void.”
The Kangaroos are 1-1 after two rounds and face Port Adelaide on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
Daniel Wells (Achilles) and Scott Thompson (ankle) are in doubt for the clash and need to pass late fitness tests to be included.
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