Sydney recruit Taylor Adams will miss the AFL season opener and a round-two showdown with his former side Collingwood after being ruled out for up to a month with a knee injury.
Adams impressed in his first hit-out for the Swans in last Thursday's pre-season loss to Brisbane, having made a shock move from the Magpies during the trade period.
But the 30-year-old hurt his left knee under the weight of a tackle from the Lions' Cam Rayner during the third quarter and was immediately put on ice.
Sydney officials had hoped Adams would be passed fit to play in the season opener against Melbourne at the SCG on Thursday night.
However, the extent of the damage was worse than feared.
"Taylor Adams had scans last night which confirmed medial ligament strain in his left knee which he suffered in the game against Brisbane," the club said in a statement on Saturday.
"He is expected to miss 3-4 weeks."
Adams spent 10 years with Collingwood and played in their 2018 grand-final defeat before enduring further heartbreak when he missed out on last year's premiership with a hamstring injury.
The 206-game veteran then shocked the AFL world with a trade request, moving to Sydney in search of more midfield time.
Adams will miss games against Melbourne, Collingwood, Essendon and possibly Richmond, with his Swans debut potentially coming against West Coast next month.
He will have to wait until at least round 22 before facing the Magpies.
Sydney veteran Luke Parker is also expected to miss about a month of football after undergoing surgery on his broken arm.
The former captain was injured during the final quarter of the Swans' practice match against Greater Western Sydney on February 22.
The latest blows come after Callum Mills was ruled out for the first 10 weeks of the season with a shoulder injury, which leaves the Swans' midfield severely undermanned.
Fourth-year gun Errol Gulden will be required to step up again, with James Rowbottom and Chad Warner also set to take on greater responsibility.
Isaac Heeney could play more midfield time after moving to the forward line in recent seasons, while James Jordon, recruited from Melbourne, adds some depth.
Meanwhile, Essendon have breathed a sigh of relief after important defender Jordan Ridley was cleared of serious damage to his troublesome right quadriceps.
Ridley missed the final five rounds of 2023 with a high-grade strain of the muscle, and re-injured it during the Bombers' community series defeat to Geelong on Friday night.
Scans on Saturday revealed the latest setback is less severe - a low-grade strain.
Essendon will wait until the injury settles before plotting a timeline for Ridley's return, though he appears unlikely to be cleared to play in the round-one clash with Hawthorn on March 16.
