Port Adelaide captain Matthew Primus needed a full knee reconstruction on Thursday night, potentially ending his AFL career.

Coach Mark Williams, appearing on Channel Nine's The Footy Show, confirmed the result of the surgery.

Primus had played 19 games this season after missing last year's premiership because of another reconstruction.

Two days ago, Williams admitted it would be "pretty tough for him to come back from here" if Primus needed the procedure again.

It will most likely keep him out of football until this time next year, meaning in effect the 30-year-old would not return until the start of 2007.

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