Emerging young key defender, Michael Hurley, strained a quad muscle at training today during a warm-up and will not be available to play against Fremantle.
Football operations manager, Paul Hamilton, said the 19-year-old injured himself during a routine kicking drill.
""While this is disappointing for Michael and our supporters, we were all encouraged by his debut last week and, since this is just the start of the season, we will still see plenty of him during 2009,"" Hamilton said.
""This is the first soft-tissue injury we have had for the year and these sorts of injuries can occur in young players.
""The positive is that young Darcy Daniher has been playing well and now gets the opportunity to come into the squad as a tall option down back.""
Hamilton said a quad injury generally takes four weeks to heal.
Hurley was taken by Essendon with pick No.5 in the 2008 NAB National Draft.
