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Australian Rules > Blues play it safe with Kreuzer
By Sam Lienert
June 21, 2010

Carlton have opted for a conventional knee reconstruction for ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, rather than the LARS technique that could have delivered a faster AFL comeback.

The 21-year-old will have surgery on Tuesday to repair the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, after going down early in the Blues' loss to Fremantle on Saturday night.

Kreuzer's season would have been over even if the Blues chose the LARS option - involving a synthetic graft - rather than the conventional method, in which a graft will be taken from the patella tendon.

The synthetic option has enabled players such as Port Adelaide's David Rodan and Sydney's Nick Malceski, to return to the field within four months of a reconstruction.

It compares to an expected rehabilitation timeframe of nine months or more using a natural graft, meaning Kreuzer is likely to miss the entire 2011 pre-season.

But, with uncertainty about how durable the synthetic graft might prove over the duration of Kreuzer's career, the Blues decided on the more cautious approach.

"Following discussions with the medical team and Matthew it was decided to have the more conventional surgery that uses a graft taken from the patella tendon," the Blues said in a statement.

"This decision was based on what is considered to be the best for Matthew's long-term future."

Kreuzer was the AFL's No.1 draft pick in 2007 and has played 56 matches, without missing any, since making his debut in round three, 2008.
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