Porps only slim chance

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Adelaide assistant coach Ben Hart conceded Jason Porplyzia is only a 'slim' chance of returning this season after shoulder surgery sidelined the forward for between four and six months.

Hard said that while Porplyzia is shattered by the lengthy layoff he hasn't completely written off the season and neither have the Crows.

The dual premiership winner said there is a small possibility the 26-year-old could return for finals action should the Crows finish in the top eight.

"It's a slim chance. I probably can't give you the exact percentages," said Hart on Thursday.

"They say four to six months, but if (even) it's (close to) six months he could be back finals time if we happen to make it. It's a small chance but at this stage it's a bit of a wait and see."

"He was pretty devastated. I think he knew pretty much, straight away when he did it that something pretty ordinary was going on."

"At the same time he still has a good resolve about him. It's not necessarily the season but it will be a fair lay off, but we haven't written off the season. I think in his mind, he hasn't either which is a good thing."

Hart said that once fit again, Porplyzia still face an uphill battle and would still need a couple of solid hit outs to regain match hardening and clock up valuable game time before forcing his way back into Adelaide's side.

"You'd need a couple of weeks I'd imagine, at least," he said.

"It's a quicker game, it's a really intense type of game. Often, it will take you a few games, even pre-season stuff to get up to speed with it."

"You can do as much running as you like, as much fitness as you like but to actually get up to the speed of the game it can be a difficult thing."

Porplyzia went under the knife on Thursday after seeking a second opinion and Hart said Porplyzia had considered playing on without surgery as he did in 2008, before an operation post-season.

"I think it went through his mind but at the same time I think he realised or remembered what it was like to go through popping it and out all the time," he said.

"While he made a fantastic effort it was hell for him with the pain. He thought about it but he was probably thinking more long term for his future in the game - better to get it fixed properly and go from there."

The Crows assistant denied that shoulder strapping could have prevented the injury despite Porplyzia's history.

"I don't think so, it was just one of those things really," he said.

"It was the wrong mechanics of the situation and it just popped out so I don't think strapping would have made any difference."

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