""He has been struggling to shake off this problem for a while,"" Essendon’s general manager of football operations Dom Cato said. ""Another scan was done recently and it showed the patella tendon itself is in very good condition – the problem is the calcified tissue around it so it was decided he needed surgery.""
""He will go on to the long-term injury list and it is very unlikely he will play again this season. His long-term future is something we will sit down and discuss at the end of the season. We know the patella tendon itself is in good shape so that is the positive to come out of it from both a playing point of view and his welfare post-football.""
With Allan going onto the long-term injury list, Essendon has the option of promoting one of its remaining three rookie listed players – Adrian Wilson, Ben Jolley or Ryan Bain.
However the club is unlikely to take up that option at this stage, preferring to leave open its options with Andrew Lovett now able to take the senior-list position vacated by Allan should Andrew Lee (still on the long-term injury list) recover from osteitis pubis. Lovett initially came on to the senior list to replace Lee. Nathan Lovett-Murray is the other elevated rookie – he is on the senior list in place of Adam Ramanauskas.
