Recent Giants draftee Max Gruzewski is facing further time on the sidelines after dislocating his knee during a pre-season drill in Sydney's west.
Selected with the 22nd pick of the 2022 AFL Draft, the athletic Victorian was brought north of the border with an eye to joining the Giants' forward structure in 2023.
With the Oakleigh Chargers product spending a portion of his draft year on the sidelines following an injury to the same knee, GWS will have been aware of Gruzewski's history before calling his name on night two of the draft.
But in an early blow for the versatile rookie, Gruzewski will require surgery on his hampered knee following a training mishap, per reports from News Corp.
The talented teenager was arguably GWS' most ready-made new draft arrival, with Gruzewski's ability to play at either end of the field sure to give Adam Kinglsey some much-needed flexibility within his burgeoning squad.
No.1 pick Aaron Cadman could be in the frame for a debut when the Giants face Adelaide in Round 1 next year, while Academy recruit Harry Rowston is another draftee that could press for an early appearance in 2023.
The Giants will be hoping Gruzewski's setback is the last for their new batch of rookies after a frustrating season for their 2021 draft class this year.
First-round picks Finn Callaghan and Leek Aleer combined for nine games after facing some setbacks during their respective rookie campaigns, while Josh Fahey's debut season was over by May with a dislocated shoulder.
Aleer managed to play out the final four games of this year and could again be in the frame for selection come Round 1, while Callaghan is sure to secure more opportunities in 2023 given the recent departures of midfield trio Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Tanner Bruhn.
