Morabito opts for LARS surgery

Anthony Morabito (left) will have LARS surgery in an attempt to save his AFL career. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: HWT Image Library

FIRST: How The Sunday Times flagged LARS treatment for Anthony Morabito last weekend. Source: PerthNow

THE father of Anthony Morabito says the young Docker almost gave football away before deciding to undergo LARS surgery.

Fremantle today announced the No.4 draft pick will have surgery next week after tearing his ACL for a third time last week.

Morabito's father Vince said it was a difficult call for his 21-year-old son.

"That was one of decisions he needed to make - whether to give it away or give it another shot," Morabito Sr said.

"Because one of the hardest things for him is that he hasn't fulfilled his dream, so that's the other thing that is driving him as well.

"He was pretty close (to retirement), but he made the decision to play on, we didn't push him into it.

"I just told him whatever he wants to do, the decision was his. He had to be happy with it and not make a decision to please anyone.

"We're pleased everything has fallen into place and we'll support him to the full."

The 21-year-old last week reinjured the left knee he had twice had reconstructed in the past two years, suffering a tear in the graft of the ligament during an attempted tackle.

Having previously had two traditional reconstructions, Morabito and the club elected to use the LARS procedure, with the youngster to fly over east for surgery next week.

The Sunday Times last week revealed Morabito had spoken with LARS pioneers Nick Malceski and Luke Webster about the merits of the procedure.

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The controversial procedure has allowed players including David Rodan and Nick Malceski to return to action within half a season, but Fremantle football operations manager Chris Bond said it was too early to plot a return date for the midfielder.

"Anthony really just needed some time and space to weigh up his surgery options," he said.

"After discussions with people close to him and the football club, Anthony has decided that this surgery will give him the best chance to resume his playing career.

"Obviously with LARS there's a shorter time frame with coming back, but we think he just needs to get back from the surgery and make sure that everything is OK first.

"We'll see how he recovers from that and then we'll have a better idea."

Morabito missed the 2011 season with a left knee reconstruction after a pre-season mishap, then re-injured the knee when he was preparing for a return to the field in mid-2012.

Last week he tore the graft on his repaired left anterior cruciate ligament in a training drill.

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