Gold Coast’s quest to make the club’s first ever finals series has taken a devastating blow with prized recruit Daniel Rioli sidelined.
The Suns defender will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks as he undergoes surgery on a fracture in his fibula.
Rioli limped off the ground in the second quarter against the Crows with an apparent leg concern, with the extent of his injury now revealed.
It comes off the back of a horror weekend for the club, after they were taken to task by Adelaide in a 61-point drubbing.
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"Scans on Monday shows that Daniel has sustained a small fracture to his fibula," Suns head physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said.
"After discussing the results with Daniel, a decision was made that he will undergo an operation which will make him unavailable for selection for several weeks"
The 28-year-old was brought in over the off-season in an effort to bolster the club’s chances at making finals, as the Suns parted ways with picks six and 23 to wrestle him out of Richmond.
The dynamic half-back had been enjoying a solid year back under the guidance of coach Damien Hardwick, who he played in three premierships under during his time at Punt Road.
But now Hardwick and the Suns will have to make one final push for September without the experienced Rioli.
Gold Coast currently sit in eighth position, four points ahead of the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs, while also having a game in hand due to their rescheduled clash with Essendon from Opening Round.
However, after their shocking effort on Sunday against the Crows, their spot in the finals is far from guaranteed.
Brisbane and GWS loom as big tests over the next few weeks, before they revisit the Adelaide Oval and look to put their effort against the Crows behind them when they meet Port Adelaide in Round 24.