Crows utility Andy Otten will undergo a traditional knee reconstruction after scans confirmed a rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

Otten, 25, sustained the injury in the second quarter of Adelaide’s win over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday. Otten was taken from the ground on a stretcher after his right knee gave way as he prepared to jump into a marking contest.

It’s expected Otten will spend 12 months on the sidelines. It will be the versatile Crow’s second knee reconstruction. He ruptured the ACL in his left knee during a pre-season training drill in December, 2009, and missed the entire 2010 season.

Otten was confident the experience would help him in his rehabilitation this time around.

“I would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and messages of support in the last 24 hours,” Otten said.

“Sadly, I can’t change what has happened, despite really wishing I could. I know what is ahead of me and will tackle this setback head on.”

Otten has played 79 AFL games since being recruited with pick No.27 in the 2007 AFL National Draft.

A reliable defender, Otten established himself as a handy ‘swingman’ last year playing a vital role in Adelaide’s injury-hit forward line. His significant contribution saw him win the Coach’s Award and finish top five in the Crows’ best and fairest.

Otten missed the first two months of this season after hyperextending his left knee in a trial match against Greater Western Sydney at Blacktown in March. He returned to the Crows side in Round 11 and had played 10 games without miss prior to this injury.