Much improved Essendon midfielder and club leader, Andrew Welsh, will miss approximately three months of football after breaking the fibula bone in his right lower leg during today's intra club match at Whitten Oval.

 

The veteran of 134 games also dislocated his ankle and suffered ligament damage.

 

The 25-year-old (who turns 26 next week) is currently in Epworth hospital and will be operated on tonight.

 

Matthew Knights said the injury occured when Welsh was tackled in the third quarter and was simply a fate injury.

 

""He's in a little bit of strife. We are just going to have to wait and see what the ramifications will be but he will definitely have a good deal of time on the sidelines,"" Knights said.

 

""It was a fate collision injury and nothing to do with how he prepared or the amount of time he spent on the ground. We love the body contests of the great game of AFL but at times the result is injuries like this.""

 

New recruit Hayden Skipworth was taken from the field after suffering a heavy knock while Kyle Reimers felt some leg soreness but both are still up for selection for Round 1 of the NAB Cup.

 

While Knights admitted the Welsh injury was a major blow, he said there were many positives to come out of the game and was impressed by the form of rookie Christian Bock, Bachar Houli, Heath Hocking, Scott Gumbleton and David Hille.

 

He said Scott Lucas and Mark McVeigh worked themselves into the game the more it progressed and was happy with their performance.

 

 

A highlights package of each quarter of today's game will be available on Bomber.tv soon.