Gold Coast Suns foundation player Rory Thompson to undergo keyhole surgery

FOUNDATION Suns defender Rory Thompson will have keyhole surgery in the coming week to determine whether he will need a major operation on his knee.

FOUNDATION Suns defender Rory Thompson will have keyhole surgery in the coming week to determine whether he will need a major operation on his knee.

Thompson will go to Brisbane for the minor surgery before the key defender and Gold Coast’s football department decide whether to try and rehabilitate the partial tear of his ACL or opt for large scale surgery.

“We are just going to go and have a look because it is a weird one,” Suns coach Stuart Dew said.

“They will do keyhole surgery to get some eyes on it and make a decision based around what they see.

“We are working through that this week so we will know in the next couple of days. I'm assuming it will be done in the next week or so.

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“There are a few ways you can go with it. You can do a major operation on it or you can rehab it.

“Speaking to some people who have had the injury, some say you don’t need an operation and other guys believe it’s a ticking time bomb.”

Thompson looked to be on the cusp of returning to the AFL after nearly two seasons out with injury but suffered a partial tear to his ACL in his knee during his second game back while playing in a scratch match on August 15.

It’s the opposite knee to the one he first hurt in 2019 when he ruptured the ACL in his right knee three weeks before the start of the 2019 season. His last game came in Round 19 of the 2018 season against Carlton.

Thompson is 29 and if he requires surgery again it could mean he will miss the entire 2021 season, leaving him without three seasons of AFL football at the age of 30.

Thompson is the fact he is contracted until the end of 2023 and Dew said they dream for the day he lines up next to Sam Collins in the Suns backline.

“We would love to have a day when him and Sam are in the same defence,” Dew said.

“Rory is pretty resilient and laid back. He believes it is what it is.”

INITIAL REPORT FROM AUGUST 20:

FOUNDATION Sun Rory Thompson’s time out of the AFL could extend to three years on the back of a devastating injury setback.

Thompson looked to be on the cusp of returning to the AFL after nearly two seasons out with injury but suffered a partial tear to his ACL in his right knee during his second game back while playing in a scratch match on the weekend.

It’s the opposite knee to the one he first hurt in 2019.

“He had an incident in the game that required him to come from the ground and subsequently we’ve had some scans taken,” Suns football manager Jon Haines said.

“He’s got a partial tear to his ACL in his non reconstructed (right) knee.”

“It’s an unusual one given it’s a partial tear, so we just want to make sure we get all the right opinions before we make a decision on the best way forward.”

Mitch Riordan (left) and Rory Thompson (right) in action during an AFL Gold Coast Suns training session at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, Thursday, June 18, 2020. (AAP Image/Darren England)

It adds to a gruelling recovery for Thompson who ruptured the ACL in his right knee in three weeks before the start of the 2019 season. His last game came in Round 19 of the 2018 season against Carlton.

Thompson is 29 and if he requires surgery again it could mean he will miss the entire 2021 season, leaving him without three seasons of AFL football at the age of 30.

One major saving grace for Thompson is the fact he is contracted until the end of 2023.

Thompson had nagging soreness in his right knee in June and was sent for scans but managed to make his anticipated return last week before suffering the setback on the weekend while playing for the reserves.

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Haines said Thompson was disappointed but was now focussing his efforts onto the best way back to full fitness.

“Rory was tracking really well; the reconstructed knee was in terrific shape and physically he was in really good condition,” Haines said.

“He’s obviously disappointed and frustrated but once he gets a clear indication of what the path is forward, he’ll be able to put all his energy into that and we’ll make sure we support him with that journey.”