Having only just returned from more than a year out following a left knee reconstruction, Lehane is facing another extended stint on the sidelines after suffering an ACL tear to his same knee.

Lehane, 28, suffered the injury playing inter-league for Heathcote District earlier this month.

It was initially thought Lehane had slightly strained his PCL and that he would miss only one to two games.

However, a further scan on Monday revealed the ACL tear in what’s a devastating blow for the dual White Hills’ best and fairest winner.

“It’s obviously very disappointing for this to happen after getting stuck back into footy with a few games under my belt,” Lehane said on Wednesday.

“It had been feeling pretty good last week and I thought I may have been able to get back into training this week, but that’s not going to be the case.

“It’s a near complete tear of the ACL on the same knee as last time.”

Lehane – a school teacher – previously suffered his first ACL injury on July 25, 2015.

He missed the Demons’ last five games of 2015 and all of last season, with the inter-league game agaisnt Central Murray at the QEO his fourth game back.

“I suppose in hindsight you think maybe I shouldn’t have played inter-league and just taken the week off,” Lehane said.

“But I think it’s the right thing to do to put your hand up to try to play the best footy that you can.

“I’ve played inter-league a few times now and getting to know the guys from other clubs is a good opportunity. You can’t think about the what ifs because it could have happened in any game.”

Adding to the disappointment for Lehane, who had been playing full-back, is the much improved Demons under coach Brent Millar have laid the foundation for a crack at the top three on the back of a 4-1 start, while it has forced him to contemplate his playing future.

“I’ll go through the rehab and try to give myself every chance to play again, but that will be a decision that I’ll have to make depending on how long it all takes,” Lehane said.