Adelaide midfielder Richard Douglas will miss at least a month of the AFL season after having surgery on a bleeding groin.

Douglas was hospitalised after suffering a knock to the groin during Adelaide’s trial game win against Greater Western Sydney last Friday.

On return to Adelaide, he had surgery to stop persistent bleeding in the groin area, the Crows’ football manager Phil Harper said on Monday.

“Medical advice on this points to a six-week recovery period,” Harper said in a statement.

“Richard will unfortunately miss the start of the season but as always, his health is our main priority. Importantly, he will make a full recovery.”

Douglas, Adelaide’s club champion in 2010 and runner-up in the award last year, joins forward Tom Lynch in missing the start of the looming season.

Lynch dislocated a shoulder against the Giants while utility Andy Otten is also in doubt for the Crows’ March 20 season-opener in Geelong after jarring his reconstructed right knee against GWS.