Hip surgery for McDougall
January 19, 2005
FOX SPORTS

EMERGING West Coast forward Andrew McDougall will miss the start of the Wizard Cup AFL pre-season competition after undergoing minor hip surgery today.

McDougall is expected to be out for five weeks, throwing his pre-season into disarray.

The athletic full-forward, who was second on the club's goal-kicking list in 2004 behind Phil Matera with 35, opted for surgery after having an arthroscopy yesterday.

He will be restricted to light work for several weeks and will miss the Eagles' opening Wizard Cup clash against arch rival Fremantle on February 18.

However, club officials today said they believed McDougall would be ready for the start of the season proper.