Sydney is the latest AFL club to lose a star player for the start of the season, with dual All Australian Errol Gulden to have surgery on a broken ankle.
The star faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after being hurt in the Swans' Friday night pre-season win over the Suns on the Gold Coast.
Gulden's ankle was caught under him and twisted awkwardly when he was tackled early in the game.
He was in agony and needed two trainers to help him from the ground.
The 22-year-old dynamo was sent to hospital, and scans have revealed a fractured ankle.
"Gulden will have surgery tomorrow morning," the Swans said in a statement on Saturday.
"An approximate return to play date will be determined after surgery."
Gulden's injury came on a night of injury carnage, with Suns players Mac Andrew (sternum), Charlie Ballard (ankle), David Swallow (knee) and Lachie Weller (hamstring) also taken out of the game.
Earlier on Friday, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli (calf) and star Port Adelaide midfielder Zack Butters (knee surgery) were confirmed as being out of action for at least six weeks.
The premiership season starts next Thursday night when reigning premiers Brisbane host Geelong at the Gabba, with Sydney to play Hawthorn the following evening at the SCG.
Suns coach Damien Hardwick said the structure of pre-season games needs more work
"We have to get a bit better and it's hard, because round zero comes and then some sides have two weeks off," Hardwick told Fox Footy after the Sydney game.
"We need to put our heads together and figure out what we can do, and get a little bit tighter.
"Sydney can't get home tonight and they play next Friday, they're stuck here.
"We just have to get this scheduling better. They have one job, the AFL, let's get it sorted out."
