Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley revealed to The Advertiser that tall forward Charlie Dixon underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle on Tuesday this week.
The big man kicked 26 goals for Port in 2018 before badly breaking his leg in a marking contest with West Coast Eagles defender Tom Barrass on August 11th.
The break led to further complications with Dixon's ankle, and Hinkley said the recovery has been less than ideal.
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“We are seven months since he broke his leg and took a significant injury out of that West Coast game,” Hinkley told The Advertiser.
“It was more than just a broken leg once the ankle is factored in.
“Charlie is running. But he is not training the way we would like to have him training now.
“It is hard to get an accurate timeline on his return. It could be as early as a week (to full training). It could be as far out as four weeks.
“I can’t get a crystal ball read on that one. It is very difficult. It is a significant injury — broken leg and ankle at the same time. It will take a long time. And he is a big person to carry on those legs."
Port Adelaide will be without the 206cm spearhead when they take on Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday - and there's no concrete timeline for his return.