Carlton will be missing their "x-factor" for the rest of the AFL season after confirming versatile star Jarrad Waite needs a full knee reconstruction.

It is a major blow, with coach Brett Ratten saying Waite was among the club's three most irreplaceable players, given his ability to play key positions at both ends.

"With his run and versatility, marking the ball and winning the ball at ground level, he's someone that's been our x-factor in the team," Ratten said.

"We've gone to him a few times to produce a good performance and it's not great for him to be in this situation."

Waite's flexibility means his absence will create headaches in attack and defence.

He was the club's best attacking support option for struggling spearhead Brendan Fevola, but Ratten said his ability to provide flair and rebound from defence would probably be missed more.

That absence was already sorely felt after Waite went off in the first quarter against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday, with Ratten saying they would have loved his boldness in a stagnant defence.

"Jarrad, to his credit, has been one that has played with a lot of instinct and run and dash," Ratten said.

"In the game the way it panned out, he would have found himself at centre half-back by about quarter time."

Ratten said the Blues were likely to bring in forward Brad Fisher for his first game this season to bolster their attack, while Setanta O'hAilpin is expected to return to defence for his third game of the season.

The Blues had held a glimmer of hope Waite would be able to play again this year, before arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday confirmed the worst.

"Advice from the surgeon following this surgery is that the partial tear to the ACL is significant and, as such, Jarrad will require a full knee reconstruction," the Blues said in a statement.

"Jarrad will have conventional ACL surgery later this week and will set his sights on returning to football for round one of the 2010 season."

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