Gold Coast co-captain and first-choice ruckman Jarrod Witts has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a hammer blow to the Suns' AFL season.
Witts came from the ground in the third quarter of Friday night's loss to Adelaide after his left knee became trapped in an awkward position following up from a centre bounce.
Scans confirmed an ACL rupture, with Witts to miss the rest of the season after having previously played every game between 2018 and 2020.
"It's unfortunate for Jarrod, but we know he'll continue to lead the club as he has done in recent years," Suns general manager of football Jon Haines told the club's website.
Witts' injury leaves Gold Coast with a ruck conundrum, as back-up Zac Smith (knee) won't be fit for at least another month.
Untried 20-year-old Matt Conroy is the only other genuine ruckman on Gold Coast's list after ruck-forward Peter Wright was traded to Essendon last year.
But Conroy is also out for the year with an ACL injury while fellow tall Sam Day is sidelined indefinitely with a knee issue.
In other injury news, defender Connor Budarick had surgery on his ruptured ACL last week.
Recruit Jacob Townsend will miss five to six weeks after having surgery on a facial fracture,
