Morabito opts for LARS surgery

Anthony Morabito (left) will have LARS surgery in an attempt to save his AFL career. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

STRICKEN Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito will travel to Sydney for LARS surgery in a bid to keep his AFL career alive.

The 21-year-old last week reinjured the left knee he had twice had reconstructed in the past two years, suffering a tear in the graft of the ligament during an attempted tackle.

Having previously had two traditional reconstructions, Morabito and the club elected to use the LARS procedure, with the youngster to fly over east for surgery next week.

The Sunday Times last week revealed Morabito had spoken with LARS pioneers Nick Malceski and Luke Webster about the merits of the procedure, but last night the young midfielder was still weighing up his future.

The controversial procedure has allowed players including David Rodan and Nick Malceski to return to action within half a season, but Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond said it was too early to plot a return date for the midfielder.

"Anthony really just needed some time and space to weigh up his surgery options," he said.

"After discussions with people close to him and the football club, Anthony has decided that this surgery will give him the best chance to resume his playing career.

"Obviously with LARS there's a shorter time frame with coming back, but we think he just needs to get back from the surgery and make sure that everything is OK first.

"We'll see how he recovers from that and then we'll have a better idea."
 
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Last night a source close to Morabito said he was in two minds about attempting another comeback.

"He's changing his mind on a daily basis.

"After two years of rehab, he doesn't know if he wants to do another year of it.''

The No.4 draft pick has not played since his excellent debut season in 2010.

Morabito missed the 2011 season with a left knee reconstruction after a pre-season mishap, then re-injured the knee when he was preparing for a return to the field in mid-2012.

Last week he tore the graft on his repaired left anterior cruciate ligament in a training drill.

- with Jay Clark

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