Father time may have finally caught up to Sydney premiership onballer Josh P. Kennedy, with the Swans veteran likely to require eight to 10 weeks on the sidelines to rehab a serious hamstring injury sustained against the Blues on Friday night.
Kennedy made his way to contest a Sam Docherty mark and arrived a fraction late to clip the Blues defender across the face, simultaneously sustaining tendon damage to his hamstring.
It was a clumsy act that cost the Swans veteran a one-week ban, which is currently the least of his concerns as his time at the AFL level is under siege.
The 34-year-old will not undergo surgery to repair the injury but is expected to miss up to several months, with any setback to his rehabilitation thought to end his 2022 campaign.
If the Bloods are to play to their full potential come September they will greatly benefit from the experienced Swan's presence on the field.
Sydney senior coach John Longmire acknowledged the lengthy spell Kennedy is likely to endure but quickly turned his attention toward the impact that the onballer can make immediately off the field.
"Unfortunately he's got a bit of tendon damage. I'm sure he'll do whatever he can to get back and play," Longmire told media on Monday.
"He's going to still concentrate on rehabbing himself and getting himself right, which he needs to do, and then look towards the back end of the year.
"In the meantime, he's going to help us out in the coaching and leadership space. He's a fantastic asset around the footy club."
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While his presence will be sorely missed, the Swans aren't struggling for midfielders to fill the void given that James Rowbottom will likely slide in after serving a one-game suspension.
Furthermore, the likes of Ryan Clarke, Ben Ronke, Robbie Fox, Dylan Stephens and Lewis Taylor are all performing well in the reserves add provide quality depth to sustain Kennedy's absence over the long term.