Adelaide young gun Dan Curtin has avoided a dreaded season-ending knee injury, but could still miss the AFL season start.
The full extent of the 20-year-old's setback has yet to be determined, after Curtin hurt his knee in a wrestling drill during pre-season training on Monday.
But the Crows confirmed Curtin has dislocated his kneecap, and the recovery is expected to be at least six weeks.
Adelaide's round-one fixture is away against Collingwood on March 14, giving Curtin nearly eight weeks for rehabilitation.
The Western Australian was one of last year's breakout young stars, enjoying an eye-catching patch of form in his second year in the AFL.
After seven games in his debut campaign, Curtin played a crucial role across 23 games to help the Crows seal last year's minor premiership before featuring in both finals losses, to Collingwood and Hawthorn.
Curtin isn't the only AFL star to have suffered a knee injury this pre-season, with Carlton forward Jesse Motlop and North Melbourne defender Jackson Archer ruled out with ACL injuries.
The bad news from the Blues and Kangaroos came as clubs return to official pre-season training after the Christmas-New Year break.
Luckless Hawthorn midfielder Will Day will also miss the start of the season, with a return timeline yet to be determined, after dislocating his right shoulder last week.
