Melbourne forward Shane McAdam is confirmed to miss the entirety of the 2025 season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during Friday's match simulation.
The 29-year-old is set to undergo a procedure to repair the damage and has since been moved to the Demons' inactive list.
The shattering news was confirmed by Melbourne's football performance boss Alan Richardson on Wednesday.
"Shane went to accelerate during match play on Friday, and has unfortunately ruptured his Achilles tendon in the process," Richardson said.
"He will undergo that surgery tomorrow. From there, he will begin a long rehab journey, which will disappointingly rule him out for the upcoming season.
"This is an incredibly disappointing outcome for Shane, who was starting to get some real momentum and confidence in his body, following a strong pre-season."
McAdam has struggled since entering the league as a mature ager, playing just the 50 games in five years with the Crows and only appearing in three games since joining Melbourne at the end of the 2023 season.
The unfortunate incident could however provide an opportunity for another, with Werribee's Jack Henderson linked to the Demons as a potential SSP option.
Henderson has been training with West Coast in recent weeks but has garnered reported interest from Melbourne ahead of Friday's signing deadline.
Former West Coast Eagle and mid-season draftee Jai Culley is another, with Culley impressing during his pre-season with Casey.
Culley is not without his own share of injury troubles, with the 194cm midfield-forward rupturing his ACL early on in the 2023 campaign.
Prior to this injury Culley had shown promising signs at the top level, kicking four goals and earning a Rising Star nomination against Port Adelaide. At only 21 years of age, Culley still presents as someone with big upside and may prove a risk worth taking for finals aspirants.
