The Standard |WARRNAMBOOL captain Jason Rowan will know the full extent of his knee injury on Monday but he is optimistic he won't need major surgery.
Rowan, second on the all-time list of Hampden football league goalkickers, suffered the injury during his club's first practice match of the pre-season against Geelong league club Lara at Warrnambool's Walter Oval on Saturday.
Rowan, who had looked sharp at full-forward, made a strong lead into the forward pocket midway through the first quarter and went to change direction after the oncoming kick eluded him when he slipped to the ground and instantly clutched his left-knee.
Clearly in pain, Rowan attempted to put weight on his leg but he could not walk from the field, eventually being chaired from the ground by two club personnel.
Rowan said scans on Monday would reveal the nature of the injury but preliminary X-rays from Warrnambool chiropractor Tim Free had cleared him of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) damage.
"We have ruled out a few things," Rowan said.
"The ACL and PCL are no worries, it's no major knee injury.
"It's a bit of piece of mind."
Rowan said the injury might relate to a lateral ligament or the meniscus.
"We have come out of it well, a reco is definitely ruled out."
The 28-year-old said he had enjoyed a big pre-season he was excited about the season ahead.
"It's probably one of the best pre-seasons I've had, this year and last year, everything was going so well."
He said he won't know until after the scans on Monday how long he will be out of action.
Rowan's injury overshadowed an impressive hit out by the Blues, which are looking to bounce back from last season's Hampden league grand final loss.
The Blues dominated play against Lara with new recruit, assistant coach Tim McIntyre racking up possessions in the midfield, across half-forward and deep in attack.
The former Adelaide Crows-listed player was superb, with pinpoint delivery to leading forwards.
Former Merrivale forward James Fary played as a key defender in his first outing with the club and looks a certain starter for the Blues' opening round match against reigning premier Koroit on April 18.
The Blues thumped an undermanned Lara, which rarely took the ball into their forward 50-metre area in the first half.