Demons blow: McDonald done for 2019
Melbourne forward Tom McDonald will miss the rest of the season after scans confirmed he had torn the meniscus in his knee.
McDonald was relieved to have avoided a torn anterior cruciate ligament which would have put him out for twelve months.
The injury, which will require arthrosopic surgery, is likely to sideline him for most if not all of the remainder of 2019.
"It's good and bad news," McDonald told radio station SEN on Monday.
"The good news is I haven't done an ACL or anything too severe, but I've got a little meniscus tear. I'll see a surgeon, but it probably will require some surgery.
"It might be tough to be back playing this year, but it could be a lot worse."
Doctors on match day had suspected a meniscus tear and were confident McDonald had not torn his ACL.
In frustrating timing, the injury came just as McDonald had his best game of the year, booting six goals in three quarters in Melbourne's thrilling win over Carlton.