Matthew Kreuzer to miss practice match after undergoing a heart procedure

Carlton veteran Matthew Kreuzer will miss Thursday night’s practice match after undergoing a heart procedure. Sam Edmund looks at what the issue means for the star Blue going forward.

Matthew Kreuzer has previously had heart problems. Picture: Michael Klein

Carlton veteran Matthew Kreuzer will miss Thursday night’s practice match against Collingwood after undergoing a heart procedure.

But the Blues have stressed last week’s operation was only minor and that the key ruckman was already back in full training.

While Kreuzer will miss the Pies meeting, he is scheduled to feature in the Blues’ opening Marsh series game against Fremantle on February 29.

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The 188-game warhorse is said to have had an otherwise excellent pre-season.

The procedure is related to the heart scares that forced an early end to Kreuzer’s 2018 campaign.

Kreuzer missed the last six games of that season after twice experiencing an elevated heart rate.

The big man was forced out of the Round 17 match against St Kilda in 2018 before a similar issue saw him become a late withdrawal for a game against Fremantle four weeks later.