Surgery for Falcons young gun

Geelong Falcon Tanner Bruhn. (krockfootball.com.au Image/Al Packer)

HIGHLY-rated 2020 AFL Draft prospect Tanner Bruhn looks set to miss most of the first half of the Geelong Falcons’ season after suffering a knee injury while training with the Vic Country Academy.

The 16-year-old is set to undergo surgery this week, after which he will have a better indication of how long he’ll be sidelined.

However, it’s unlikely Bruhn will get the chance to represent Vic Country in this year’s under-18 National Championships.

Falcons coach Luke Daffy says the incident in which Bruhn sustained the injury in Ballarat earlier this month was innocuous, with scans also revealing pre-existing damage that required surgical intervention.

“It was a minor incident where he went to go one way, and as a result, he copped some soreness in the knee,” Daffy said.

“He’s had some great support in terms of the medical stuff.

“He’s going to get in to get that surgery done pretty quickly, and them give him a good chance to rest for a little bit.

“We know how busy he’s been with his cricket and footy; it might be a good opportunity for him to really rest his body and get back for the second half of the year to play with us and Geelong Grammar.”

Daffy says the Falcons will ensure Bruhn, who was the youngest player to make his Falcons debut in nearly two decades late last year, will have a role at Highton Reserve.

“He’ll be involved in our group,” Daffy said.

“And I had a chat with Leigh Brown, too, and he’ll still stay involved with the Vic Country Academy, and there’ll be a role worked on with them in terms of just being at the camps and being around the group.”

Twitter: @tom_king79