GWS veteran Josh Kelly is set to undergo an "unprecedented" hip surgery, after fellow Giants stars Jesse Hogan and Brent Daniels also went under the knife.
Kelly will undergo surgery for a recurrent right hip issue before the Giants return to pre-season training in mid-November, and is set to miss out on at least the first half of the 2026 season.
The 30-year-old midfielder will have a resurfacing procedure, which will require "some prosthesis components" but not a hip replacement.
Giants vice-captain Kelly was limited to just 15 appearances this season with hip and calf injuries, but played a starring role in a 19-point elimination final loss to Hawthorn.
"It's a big ordeal for him because it's a bit of an unprecedented area as no AFL player that is currently playing has ever had this procedure," club medical boss Andrew Ryan said in a statement.
"At a minimum, it'll be six months before he can run so there'll be a lot of rehab that'll be going into that integration process."
Star forward duo Hogan and Daniels were also troubled by recurring injuries this year.
Hogan was sidelined for three weeks from round 21 after struggling with pain in the navicular bone of his right foot.
The 30-year-old had surgery on the bone when fractured in 2019 while he was playing for Fremantle.
Meanwhile, Daniels was limited to just six appearances.
The talented small forward was first ruled out with an abdominal strain, returned in round 13 and played two matches before picking up an adductor injury.
Daniels was set to return for finals before a calf strain derailed his campaign.
Both underwent surgery for their separate injuries.
"We had quite a positive outcome in the off-season with Jesse, with some surgery that he had to remove some bone spurs around the foot," Ryan said.
"He'll be in a rehab program up until Christmas and then ideally in the new year, he'll be incorporated back into training.
"(Daniels) had a significant surgery around that abdomen and groin area and he's in that recovery phase at the moment.
"A bit like Jesse, there's a bit of a strength rebuilding phase leading into Christmas with some conditioning that will come."
Fellow small forward Darcy Jones is also on the mend after a knee reconstruction, having ruptured the ACL in his right knee during the qualifying final against Hawthorn.
He is joined by Nathan Wardius (ACL), Conor Stone (foot), Jack Ough (shoulder) and Toby McMullin (foot, ankle) on the sidelines.
