Carlton’s AFL finals hopes have taken a cruel early hit, with dashing defender Zac Williams ruled out for the entire season because of a knee injury.

Williams suffered the injury during training at the Blues’ preseason camp in Queensland on Friday, and scans have confirmed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

The 28-year-old will undergo surgery in the next few days before starting his rehabilitation.

“These incidents are so unfortunate and we are all feeling for Zac,” Carlton head of football Brad Lloyd said in a club statement.

“He could not have done any more this preseason to get himself ready for the year.

“He will undergo surgery to repair his ACL and from there we will put a rehabilitation program in place for him over the next 12 months.”

Williams signed a six-year contract with Carlton in a high-profile move from GWS, but has managed just 23 matches in two seasons with the club.

A calf injury limited him to just one match after round nine last year.

“He has had more than his fair share of bad luck with injury, Zac,” Lloyd said.

“But in that time he has built up a lot of resilience, which he will no doubt tap into as we all support him on his road to recovery from here.”

Williams was poised to join Adam Saad at half-back this year, with the pair capable of providing plenty of run out of the back half.

Williams’s latest setback hurts the Blues’ chances of ending a 10-year finals drought after they missed out by the barest of margins last season, their first under coach Michael Voss.

Unlucky forward Sam Philp also suffered an injury blow, undergoing surgery after experiencing a stress fracture to the second metatarsal in a foot.

Williams and Philp join an injury list that includes star midfielder Sam Walsh, who has had back surgery and will not feature in the early rounds of the season.

Carlton opens its campaign against Richmond at the MCG on March 16.

AAP

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