Adam Ramanauskas was today delivered the news that all footballers dread – he has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and he will miss the remainder of the season. But as is Ramanauskas’ way, he refused to feel sorry for himself. ""I'm still pretty young, only 24 so hopefully I've still got another 5-6-7 years to go in my career - this is just one of those setbacks that I am going to have to overcome,"" he said.

Ramanauskas had a scan of the knee at Victoria House this afternoon and emerged to tell the waiting media his season was over.

""The footy gods aren't quite looking down on me at the moment,"" he said in one of the great understatements of the season. ""It is all over for this year so I'll just get on with the rehab, get the operation done as soon as possible, go from there. I'll just get the operation done and do everything right and keep supporting the boys as much as I can.""

The injury was sustained during the simplest of drills during training last night.

""We were just doing a shepherding drill late in training. I think I got my foot caught and my knee just kept on going. I just heard a really loud pop - I was in a bit of pain so just walked off. I went and saw the specialist last night and he was fairly certain (it was bad) and the scans have just pretty much concluded the same.

""You see a lot of the guys get carried off on a stretcher and that, I walked off and thought I might be a bit lucky here but they were pretty certain that I'd done it, it's over with.""

Ramanauskas said the reality of his season being over probably had not hit home as yet but expected it would when Essendon takes on Geelong at The Dome on Saturday night.

""It will probably sink in Saturday night when we are playing Geelong - but like I said, whatever I can do to help out the boys for the rest of the season I'll do,"" he said. ""I think it (his experience with cancer) does help but the reality of not playing another season of football does hurt deep down

""It is something I am going to have to come to terms with, speak with a few people - see what they have got to say. One of my really close mates, Dean Solomon has had his done so obviously I will speak a fair bit to him about what he has been through with his rehab. Mark Alvey has also done it. I'll get around to them, speak to them, I think just the reality of not playing another year is going to probably hit hardest

""You do the whole pre-season and then you play three games and it's all over pretty much - maybe I can make a good recovery and come back towards the end of the season because the specialist said you can come back in four months these days so see how we go.""