KNEE RECONSTRUCTION CONFIRMED FOR GUADAGNIN

SCANS this week have unfortunately confirmed that West Perth premiership midfielder Matt Guadagnin's 2015 WAFL season is over and that he will require the second knee reconstruction of his decorated career.

Guadagnin was having another strong game to continue his outstanding recent form during Saturday's eventual 49-point win over Perth at Lathlain Park until he went down with a knee injury.

The worst was immediately thought when he was examined by the club's medical staff and now scans have confirmed that he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and that he will require a full knee reconstruction.

It is the second time that Guadagnin has required a knee reconstruction having gone through it 2003, but by midway in 2004 he cemented a spot in the West Perth league side that he has made his own ever since.

Guadagnin has now played 189 matches for the Falcons as a tough, courageous, consistent and skilful midfielder, and was a key player in the 2013 premiership team.

After a slightly slow start to the 2015 season, his recent form had again been outstanding with him back to his very best until he went down with the knee injury.

While obviously disappointed that the 31-year-old's 2015 season is over, West Perth coach Bill Monaghan is just focused on supporting Guadagnin through the process of his second reconstruction.

"He has gone and had a scan, and it has confirmed what our doctor and physio thought. They normally get ACL's right with their diagnosis, and that's what they predicted when he came off on Saturday," Monaghan said.

"His form has been outstanding and not just over the last four or five weeks, but over a number of years. He is a really important player to us, but we also think that we have a lot of depth and have players who can step in and that's what we will be looking at now. We will support Guady through this process now of having the reconstruction."

With Guadagnin's season confirmed over, there is no need to rush into a decision about his future.

But Monaghan would be equally supportive if the star veteran midfielder wanted to go through the rehabilitation and try to return in 2016, or if he decided that his outstanding WAFL career was over as a result of the injury.

"If he wants to go through the whole rehab process and try to get back at some stage next year and he wants to do it, then I would encourage and support that," Monaghan said.

"I guess at his age and he's recently married, works a farm and goes out to Southern Cross to help his dad on his farm so right about now the decisions will need to be about lifestyle and work and so on that he has to weigh up.

"But he has always presented himself in great nick, has never carried an ounce of fat, does a lot of work in his own time and he has been really dedicated. It's not easy travelling from York twice a week for training and another time on the weekend, but it will be his decision in the end and I will support and encourage him either way."

Guadagnin now joins fellow 2013 premiership players Rohan Kerr and Jordan Jones as being sidelined for the rest of the 2015 season with Kerr having undergone a back operation, and Jones having surgery on his hamstring.

However, West Perth has now won four straight matches to have improved to a 9-4 record to sit solid in second position on the WAFL ladder ahead of this Saturday's clash with the fifth placed Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.