AFL 2023: Gold Coast Suns defender Lachie Weller’s season over after ACL injury

The Gold Coast Suns are rallying around luckless defender Lachie Weller after scans revealed he needs major knee surgery for the second time in as many seasons.

Gold Coast defender Lachie Weller’s season is over with scans confirming the 27-year-old needs further surgery on his right knee.

Weller was held out of the Suns’ 26-point win over St Kilda on Saturday with knee soreness, which the club initially hoped was only a minor setback.

However, scans this week revealed the running defender will require a second knee reconstruction in as many seasons.

“Lachie had an incident with his knee in the late stages of the round 17 match against Port Adelaide,” Gold Coast football boss Wayne Campbell said.

“After subsequent scans and consultations, the decision has been made for Lachie to undergo a second knee reconstruction.

“It’s bitterly disappointing news for Lachie and it’s important now that, as a club, we provide him all the support he needs.

Lachie Weller requires another bout of knee surgery. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Weller missed the second half of the 2022 season after suffering an ACL injury against North Melbourne in round 12.

Even as he was sidelined, Weller signed a four-year contract extension in August last year underlining his importance to the team.

He returned to the side in round 2 this season and strung together an impressive six-game stretch before being sidelined for almost two months with knee swelling.

Weller came back into the side for the monster win over Hawthorn a month ago and looked to be closing in on his best form before the latest setback.

It’s a major blow not just to Weller but for the Suns, who will be without a key weapon across half-back as they chase down a maiden finals appearance.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Gold Coast Suns defender Lachie Weller’s season over after ACL injury