Myrtleford has been left shattered with Riley O'Shea out of football for potentially 12 months with a knee injury.
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"Pretty devastating news out of the camp this week, Riley's going to require a full knee reconstruction," shattered coach Jake Sharp said at Wednesday's press conference, ahead of Sunday's preliminary final clash against Lavington at Wodonga's John Flower Oval.
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"Yeah, gutting for him and for our club, particularly all the hard years and times he's been through at the club, so we'll support him through that."
O'Shea limped off at the three-minute mark of the third term in last Sunday's first semi-final win over Albury.
He returned to the field later in the quarter, but was certainly not 100 per cent.
The 27-year-old returned to the club this season after a stint with Parkside in the Western Region.
He had previously played seven years with Myrtleford.
"Riley was coming into some really good form, he's pretty versatile for us," Sharp said.
"He went through the ruck a little bit and relieved Matty Dussin with Tommy (ruckman Tom McDonagh) being out, but just the presence up forward to provide a contest and get the ball to ground for the (Tom Ellard) Ellards and the (Lachie Dale) Dales in our side was really important for us."
O'Shea was on the verge of tears when the Saints pipped Wodonga Raiders for their first finals win in 13 years in the elimination final.
No club in that time has played fewer finals.
Meanwhile, the news is more positive with McDonagh, who hasn't played since injuring his ankle against Lavington on August 17.
"He trained last night (Tuesday) and looks a hell of a lot better than what he presented on Saturday prior to the Albury clash, yeah, I'm actually pretty confident this week he'll be right," Sharp said.
Prior to the injury, McDonagh had been one of the club's best players.
"Tommy's enormous, I think his ruck work's fantastic, what he provides at ground level for us as well can't be underestimated, just the physical presence he provides out there for our midfielders with his follow-up work's quite important to our structures," Sharp said.
Meanwhile, speculation has been rife that Lavington gun Shaun Mannagh will miss through concussion, although the club hasn't confirmed that.
