Suns young gun Jed Walter racing against the clock for round zero debut after injuring collarbone

Gold Coast’s next big thing in the forward line Jed Walter is racing the clock for a round zero debut after injuring his collarbone at training.

Jed Walter was pushing for a round zero debut, but will now be racing the clock for the start of the season after injuring his collarbone. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Gold Coast is set to begin Damien Hardwick’s coaching tenure without its prized draftee, with top-three pick Jed Walter breaking his collarbone at training.

The 19-year-old key forward was tipped to debut in the opening round clash against Richmond, however he will likely watch from the sidelines after the injury.

It is likely he would be sidelined for the next eight weeks, which rules him out of the club’s unofficial match simulation and Community Series games ahead of the season starting.

Jed Walter was pushing for a round zero debut, but will now be racing the clock for the start of the season after injuring his collarbone. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Walter will have surgery on the break in the coming days.

The 195cm prospect had been one of the standouts in the pre-season, with Hardwick reportedly enamoured with the young gun.

Walter was tipped to be the first overall selection if he had been on the open market, but Gold Coast had bidding rights on the academy product.