COLLINGWOOD remains committed to giving Tyson Goldsack every opportunity to finish his career on the field, as the popular veteran prepares to have his left knee reconstructed on the day the season officially starts.
The 30-year-old will go into hospital on Thursday to have his partially torn anterior cruciate ligament repaired, 12 days after he suffered the injury in surprising circumstances on March 10 in Moe.
Goldsack believed he had suffered a simple knee hyperextension in the dying minutes of the Pies' pre-season win over the Western Bulldogs, and even jogged off the field completely oblivious to the damage he'd done.
Scans the following day revealed the ligament's tear, sadly proving that not all ACL injuries are instantly obvious.
AFL.com.au understands the nearly two-week delay in scheduling the operation was to allow Goldsack and the medical staff to examine all graft options with orthopedic surgeon Julian Feller, and to allow inflammation to settle.
However, an artificial LARS ligament was ruled out early on, meaning the traditional operation will likely mean a season-long rehabilitation for the 2010 premiership player.
It is understood Goldsack is determined to maintain a significant presence around the club while he completes his rehabilitation and help mentor some of the club's younger players.
Coach Nathan Buckley said Goldsack was a "balanced" character who would make sure he had plenty to do while he worked his way back from the injury.
"He's already coaching some players that are going to come and play the roles he was slated for, he's helping out Brenton Sanderson and Tarkyn Lockyer with the forwards already," Buckley told SEN radio on Wednesday.
"He goes into surgery tomorrow and he's already writing his schedule to get back for the back third of the year.
"He's got a cheerful disposition, he's always an optimist, he's already looking at what can go well.
"He's a remarkable individual and we're better for having him around the place."
Off the field, Goldsack is involved with Utonic, a health drink company he founded with three others, and has ambition to use part of his enforced layoff to learn to play the piano.
He also has a young family; he and wife Chelsea welcomed their daughter Harriet in August last year.
Goldsack is out of contract at the season's end, which presents the added complication that his rehab is expected to extend well into the year.
But the Pies are determined to do all they can to make sure the well-liked swingman hasn't played his last game in the black and white.
"Yes, it's the last year of his contract and yes, he's coming towards the end of his career, but once again, this is probably another example where you have to sit and wait and see where things settle," Buckley said.
"We would like to think we'll support Tyson Goldsack to come back and have a real crack at finishing his career the way that he would wish, and we're very hopeful he still gives himself and us a chance to be a part of whatever our season looks like towards the end of the year."
Goldsack has already stated his desire to play on, whether that comes on the back of a faster-than-expected recovery this year, or in 2019.
Before the injury, the 161-game player had put together one of his strongest pre-seasons to date, escaping surgery for the first time in five years, and was set to spend more time in the forward half this season.
