AFTER a season of injury niggles, Essendon forward Michael Hurley is expected to have ankle surgery this week.
Hurley is likely to undergo a reconstruction after rolling the joint several times this year, which requires a rehabilitation period that would take him until December before resuming full pre-season training.
Hurley played 16 games this season despite some fitness concerns, with two of his best performances coming against Carlton and Richmond to finish the year.
A number of Essendon players have already had surgery, with ruckman Tom Bellchambers (hip) and midfielder Dyson Heppell (foot) going under the knife last week.
Essendon football operations manager Steve Alessio said all players were being evaluated after the club's season ended in defeat to the Tigers on Saturday night.
"There's all the medical and end-of-year assessments currently taking place and some of the outcomes may be surgery," Alessio told AFL.com.au.
Last year Hurley had a wrist reconstruction in the off-season. He continued to have wrist issues in 2013 after landing awkwardly on it in the Bombers' round three win over Fremantle.
