Maddox underwent surgery on Monday for a broken hand that he sustained in Saturday’s loss to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes at Mangoplah Sportsground.

Maddox had six screws and a plate inserted into his left hand that puts an end to his season.

“I dare say so,” Maddox said.

“The doctor said six weeks no weight-bearing and three months no contact sport.

“If it was six weeks, I’d be pushing it but three months is done and dusted.

“If we make finals, I’ll see how we go but even that would be pushing it I think.”

Maddox broke his hand when his hand got stuck in a regulation tackle.

“There wasn’t much in it,” he said.

“It was just an innocent tackle that you would make 50 times in a game. I knew straight away it wasn’t great.”

The loss of Maddox is a terrible blow to Coolamon’s finals aspirations.

Maddox handed over the captaincy this season but it still regarded as an inspirational leader at the Hoppers.

The 32-year-old had experienced an interrupted season due a glute injury earlier in the year but had begun to hit his straps in recent weeks.

“For it to happen just as we were starting to push for finals is very frustrating,” he said.

“We were just starting to find a bit of form, before the weekend anyway, and were hoping to get a bit of a run on.

“We were just starting to play some good footy and build some consistency and confidence.”

Last Saturday’s 13-point loss to MCUE dropped Coolamon to seventh position but they remain just one game, plus considerable percentage, outside the top five.

It is the second significant blow Coolamon has experienced after Canberra-based recruit Jack Baker walked out last month.

They have also experienced a number of injuries during the first half of the season.

The Hoppers host Narrandera on Saturday before taking on top two teams, Griffith and Collingullie-Glenfield Park away, either side of their bye.

Maddox has no plans for retirement and vowed to be back in 2019.

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