Crows utility Andy Otten says the players are ‘shattered’ for captain Nathan van Berlo, who is expected to miss six months of football after rupturing his Achilles Tendon.

Van Berlo, 27, sustained the injury when a weighted sled made accidental contact with the back of his leg in a speed drill at training on Monday morning. He had surgery to repair the damage and will spend the next 8-12 weeks in an immobilisation device.

Otten said van Berlo’s injury had come as a shock to everyone.

“It was just a freak accident. We’ve done those sled runs pretty much once a week for the last three years. We were just warming up when ‘VB’ went off. We weren’t too sure what happened. We saw some blood, so we thought he’d just cut his leg,” Otten told FIVEaa on Tuesday night.

“Unfortunately, we heard the news later that afternoon that it was his Achilles. The playing group was pretty flat when we heard the news. VB is our captain. He’s a great leader and a great mate. You always feel for your friends when something like this happens.

“I sent VB a text pretty quick because I know how much I appreciated the support when I went through it (a long-term injury). He’s a much loved player and I’m sure he’ll have lots of visitors.”

On Tuesday, Adelaide Football Club doctor, Dr Andrew Potter, was confident van Berlo could return to the playing field in August, but said it was vital the Club didn’t rush the midfielder’s recovery.

One of the fittest and most durable players in the AFL, van Berlo played 68 straight games before bone bruising put an end to his remarkable streak last year.

Otten backed the West Australian to get back in 2014.

“VB’s one of those players, who always gets back early from injury. He’s got those ‘superhuman’ powers and I’m certain he’ll be back and play some games this year,” he said.

“I know how hard he trains. He’ll do everything in his power to get the edge in his recovery because that’s the kind of person he is.”