Olivia Vesely will be put on ice for the remainder of Season 2021, with calf surgery bringing her year to a close.

The reigning Best & Fairest had been battling the setback since before the Saints’ season opener, with subsequent specialist consultation deeming surgery as the best course of action.

Surgery yesterday removed the torn plantaris muscle that had adhered to the 21-year-old’s Achilles tendon. Vesely is expected to spend the next two weeks in a cast.

The Saints will also be without Rebecca Ott for the rest of the year after the key defender injured her left knee in the VFLW last Saturday.

Scans confirmed damage to the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and surrounding cartilage, but fortunately there is no damage to the ACL.

Ott will today see surgeons to determine whether or not surgery will be beneficial.

On the inclusions front, Peta Searle is likely to regain Molly McDonald (quad), Jacqui Vogt (finger) and Jessica Matin (hamstring) at the selection table ahead of Round 7.

Vogt has been given a cast to train and play in for her broken pinkie, and should she get through this week’s training unaffected, will be in contention to face the Giants at RSEA Park.

Inside midfielder Nat Exon will be assessed at training tonight after receiving a knock to her shoulder in the early stages of last week’s game, while Selena Karlson’s (Achilles) condition has improved, but she is unlikely to be available for selection this week.