NORTH Ballarat Roosters marquee recruit Louis Herbert will have season-ending shoulder surgery.
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Roosters coach Marc Greig confirmed on Wednesday that Herbert had decided to go under the knife now to ensure he was ready to do a full pre-season.
Herbert expects to have the surgery early next month.
Greig said while he had left the decision completely to Herbert, he had favoured the option which gave the former Gold Coast Suns player the best chance to be fully fit for the start of the 2017 pre-season.
Herbert has made just the once appearance for the Selkirk Roosters – round one against Coburg.
He injured a hamstring in the game, in which the Roosters had what has been their only win for the Victorian Football League season.
Herbert was all set to return the VFL before aggravating a minor shoulder issue while playing for Learmonth in the Central Highlands Football League.
He was told he could play on, but would not be able to “fend off” with the injured arm.
Greig has no doubt that surgery now is the best way to go.
Originally from Warrnambool and drafted from North Ballarat Rebels. Herbert became a prime recruiting target of the Roosters after he was delisted by the Suns last year.
North Ballarat approached several former AFL players with links to the Rebels and Roosters, but Herbert was the only one not to slip through their grasp.
Meanwhile, Daniel Cox remains doubtful for the Roosters’ clash with Frankston at Frankston on Saturday after suffering concussion against Casey at the weekend. “He’s not 100 percent,” Greig said.
Cox was one of three North Ballarat players concussed in the game.
Greig is hopeful Matt Eagles and Ben Lusby will be fit to play.
Lusby was a late call-up from East Point in the BFL after the Rebels’ James Gow withdrew as 23rd player with illness.
Frankston, which like the Roosters is stand alone, is just one position ahead of the bottom-placed North Ballarat after 11 rounds. The Dolphins have had two wins and are coming a 10-point loss to Footscray.