Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says heartbreak kid Matt Scharenberg will do "everything to fulfil his dreams" as he faces more agonising time on the sidelines.
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Scharenberg, 20, will undergo a right knee reconstruction after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at training on Monday.
He was sent for scans, with the Magpies confirming he faces a year on the sidelines after he was hurt "innocuously". Surgery is expected next week.
"This is obviously disappointing for everyone but foremost for Matthew," Magpies director of football Neil Balme said.
"That said, he is only 20 years of age, he has his career before him and he is made of the right stuff. He has the mental strength and dedication to overcome a difficulty like this.
"We will look after him with all the care we can offer, to make the period before his return as smooth as possible."
Buckley took to Twitter to declare Scharenberg would again work assiduously to rebound from this latest setback.
"Not many more dedicated and professional young men than Shaz. He'll do everything to fulfil his dreams and ours. Feel for him right now," Buckley said.
The South Australian had already undergone a reconstruction on his left knee after injuring himself in the VFL late last year.
The No.6 pick from the 2013 draft also had surgery on both feet before the start of 2014. He eventually worked his way into the team this year, playing four games towards the end of the season, and he signed a three-year contract extension in September.
Scharenberg was tipped to play an increasingly important role in the rebirth of the Magpies, with the team under pressure next season to return to the finals.
The 2013 national draft has not been particularly kind to the Magpies. Their second selection that year, No.10 pick Nathan Freeman, opted to St Kilda in last month's trade period, although they were able to secure James Aish, the No.6 selection of that same draft, just before last month's trade period.
While Scharenberg will be missing for a large chunk of the season, the Pies are confident they have excellent depth. Buckley made this clear at last week's training camp of first- to fourth-year players.
"The aspirations are high but there is no doubt there is a real drive ... amongst this group that has continued to build in influence on the whole of the footy club over the last 18 to 24 months and we feel that is only going to get stronger," he said.
