FIRST-year Melbourne-listed midfielder James Strauss will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Strauss did not play for the Casey Scorpions last weekend and has since undergone reconstruction surgery on his left shoulder.

He will now undergo a three-month rehabilitation program and is expected to be available when Melbourne resumes its pre-season training in October.

It has continued a frustrating season for Struass, who played two matches for the Casey Scorpions reserves in the opening seven rounds, due to ankle and leg injuries.

He has since played two more in the reserves and three senior matches for the Scorpions, impressing in some matches, despite his interrupted start.

Strauss, who was Melbourne's third selection (No.19 overall) in last year's NAB AFL Draft, also represented Vic Metro in the 2008 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships

He was ranked equal-fourth with Nic Naitanui in the 30m-metre repeat sprints and ran 2.98 seconds in the 20-metre test at last year's NAB AFL Draft Camp. 

Strauss, along with Rohan Bail, Sam Blease and Tom McNamara, is one of four senior-listed Melbourne players yet to play an AFL match.