West Coast will have to wait until 2006 to utilise new AFL recruit Brad Smith's goal-kicking abilities after it was confirmed a serious knee injury would sideline him for the next 12 months.

The Eagles had hoped to use the former Subiaco star at full-forward this season following two years of outstanding WAFL form in front of goal, including 109 majors in last year's premiership-winning season.

West Coast picked him up with its last choice in the 2004 draft, Smith being the 57th overall selection.

The Western Australian club has struggled to fill the full-forward position ever since the retirement of former great and current assistant coach Peter Sumich.

Smith was being viewed as a possible solution in the goal-square, kicking five goals in last season's WAFL grand final triumph over Claremont.

But the 25-year-old snapped his anterior crucial ligament and also tore the medial ligament in his left knee during an intra-club game in Busselton last Friday.

Surgeons can't operate for six weeks while they wait for the swelling to go down.

Smith also injured his left medial two years ago.

He joins fellow full-forward Andrew McDougall (hip) on the sidelines, although 21-year-old McDougall hopes to regain full fitness in time for round one.

Smith had been in line for an AFL call-up early in his career before contracting hepatitis and glandular fever as a promising teenager, ailments which sidelined him for two years.

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