Melbourne Football Club defender Colin Garland will undergo surgery on his right foot, and will miss up to four months of football as a result.

Garland pulled up sore following Sunday’s game against North Melbourne.  Subsequent investigations confirmed a stress fracture in his right navicular bone.

Following consultation with a specialist, Garland will have surgery to correct the problem on Monday.

If Garland recovers within a satisfactory time frame, this will enable him to make a return to AFL towards the end of the year.

Senior coach Dean Bailey said, 'This is obviously disappointing for Colin and for the team. Colin is a vital player for us, but his longevity
in the game is important, and while this is a short hiccup we look forward to having him back in the later rounds of this season.'