But Lavington’s Marty Brennan has vowed he will return this season.

Brennan originally suffered the injury at representative training on May 15.

He was a certainty to face Western Region four days later.

Brennan suffered an extensive tear in the rectus femoris, one of the four quadricep muscles.

Quite remarkably, it was almost the size of a golf ball.

Brennan has played 10 games but, significantly, given his pace and pressure skills, he was only named in the best once in the four he played during June.

His last game was against Myrtleford on June 30.

Brennan’s zip and goal sense will be desperately needed by the Panthers in their finals campaign, which is just three weeks away.

The Panthers are home to cellar-dwellers, Wangaratta Rovers, tomorrow before rounding out the home and away season against Yarrawonga (fifth) and Albury (first).