MELBOURNE forward Tom McDonald is the latest player to pull out of Friday night's realestate.com.au AFLX tournament.
McDonald was due to be part of the Jack Riewoldt-skippered Team Rampage, but requires minor knee surgery that has ruled him out of taking part in the one-night event at Marvel Stadium.
Second-year utility Bayley Fritsch is set to be named as his replacement.
The Demons were initially going to send McDonald in for the procedure on his knee after AFLX had been completed, but that would have put his availability for round one in doubt.
Had he gone through with the operation after AFLX, McDonald would have missed part of the JLT Community Series which would have affected his preparation for the season proper.
The 26-year-old is due to have a cortisone in his knee to deal with some patella tendinitis he has been dealing with.
The Demons are adamant McDonald, who was on light duties at training on Wednesday, will be fit to play in the JLT Series and then line up in round one.
McDonald joins Hawks pair Luke Breust and Isaac Smith, also of Team Rampage, to pull out from the tournament.
Breust and Smith are not injured but decided not to take part in AFLX in preference for rest as the Hawks complete their second mandatory four-day break.