Death, taxes, and Essendon being cursed by injuries.
After a 2025 season that was derailed by injury, Essendon's 2026 campaign is off to an unfortunately familiar start, with another star struck down by a devastating injury.
After slipping at pre-season training earlier this month, Nic Martin has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season, after undergoing surgery, according to AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey.
"Nic Martin will miss all of 2026 after having follow-up knee surgery on Thursday," Twomey reported on X.
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"Martin was set to miss most of next year already but the surgery will put the focus on a return in 2027."
Martin was in the middle of rehabilitating a torn ACL that he suffered in July, but his latest surgery means his return will be delayed, with the 24-year-old now having his sights set on the 2027 season.
It comes as another blow for Essendon, whose 2025 season was derailed by injury, which saw the club name a record-setting amount of debutants, and finish the year on a 13-game losing streak.