KNEE SURGERY PUTS BROWN ON SIDELINES

MELBOURNE’S boom recruit Ben Brown has undergone surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee, quashing his hopes of a Round 1 debut in the red and blue.

In a pre-season blow, the Demons confirmed the Tasmanian key forward required an arthroscopy following a consultation with his specialist on Wednesday.

Brown and the Demons had sought the opinion of a specialist after he experienced persistent swelling in his knee.

The Demons said on Thursday the operation had gone as expected, but it is set to sideline him for a month.

Melbourne hopes Brown will be able to begin running four weeks after the surgery and remains confident he can still feature in the “early rounds” of the season for his new team.

“Given Ben’s history we will be taking a conservative approach to his recovery,” Demons’ football boss Alan

Richardson said. “Ben’s availability for selection will be determined on how well he responds to the rehab program.

“We are very confident though that we can build Ben back to full fitness and we will see him in action during the early rounds of the season.

“He is in very good shape and his training standard since joining the club has been outstanding.

“We recruited Ben as a long-term player for the club and are very confident that his best football is ahead of him.”

Brown managed just nine games in his final season with North Melbourne last year before his season was cut short by surgery on the same left knee.

The 28-year-old was traded to the Demons after seven seasons and 287 goals with the Kangaroos.

Meanwhile, defender Marty Hore had successful surgery to repair his left anterior cruciate ligament after rupturing it at training two weeks ago.