Bachar Houli will have a groin operation in Sydney on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season.
Team manager, David Calthorpe, said the 19-year-old visited the surgeon this week and was told he needed an adductor release.
“He has the early signs of osteitis pubis,” Calthorpe said.
“Fortunately, we discovered this quite quickly and are dealing with it now so we can get him up for the start of the pre-season.
“Bachar is looking at a minimum of eight weeks before he is right to go again so, obviously, that is the end of his season.”
Houli has played 13 games for Essendon after being taken with pick No. 42 in 2006.
Calthorpe said, by treating the injury early, the Round 1 rising star nomination will recover quicker and avoid further damage.
“Some players try and manage it and get through the season but, with the situation we are in at the moment with him, our best option is to get Bachar in and have the procedure now so he can have a full pre-season for us,” Calthorpe said.
“We have had a couple of success stories with dealing with this injury early including Heath Hocking this year and Leroy Jetta last year.
""Both players have come back without any set-backs from that procedure and come back bigger, fitter and stronger.""
Calthorpe said Bachar showed some good early season form but, line-line with how the team was traveling as a group, his form dropped off but was starting to return.
""He was starting to really forge himself as a prominent player for us so it is unfortunate this happened to him,"" he said.
“If we get him fixed now it will give him every opportunity to have a full pre-season and get back into it and get his spot back in the side in 2009.”
