REIGNING Yarrawonga Morris Medallist Tyler Bonat faces an indefinite stint on the sidelines after seriously gashing his leg in a work accident.
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Bonat underwent surgery on Tuesday night to repair an artery damaged while unpacking fencing equipment.
The three-time Pigeon premiership star is in a stable condition.
“It’s not a great one,” coach Chris Kennedy said.
“The gash went from above his knee to the groin area.
“I don’t know a lot of other details other than they stitched the artery up and he’s stable.
“We will find out more in the next couple of days.”
Bonat shared the Morris medal with Wodonga ruckman Matt Seiter last season after stepping up brilliantly in the absence of injured Pigeon teammates Craig Ednie and Tim Cooper.
He has carried that form into this season and was close to best afield in convincing wins over North Albury and Wangaratta Rovers in rounds two and three.
Bonat was in the Ovens and Murray’s interleague squad to play Goulburn Valley at Wodonga’s John Flower Oval next weekend and looked a certainty to be selected after being a consistent performer in recent seasons.
The squad trained together for the first time at Wangaratta’s Norm Minns Oval on Wednesday night.
Bonat has played in Yarrawonga’s 2006, 2012 and 2013 premierships as well as spending time with rival Ovens and Murray club Corowa-Rutherglen.
Undefeated Yarrawonga take on Corowa-Rutherglen at John Foord Oval on Sunday before meeting reigning premier Albury in the match-of-the-season the following weekend at J.C. Lowe Oval.
The Tigers are slowly returning to full strength after being plagued by injury and unavailability early in the home and away series.