Veteran Roo set for lengthy stint on the sidelines following kidney surgery

NORTH Melbourne star Robbie Tarrant has undergone kidney surgery and will be sidelined until the second half of the season.

It can be revealed Tarrant went under the knife yesterday afternoon after a small mass was discovered on his kidney.

That lump was removed and is now being analysed, with medical sources saying it takes 24 hours for specialists to determine its nature.

Tarrant’s health concern is somewhat similar to that of NBA player Caris LeVert earlier this year. A routine medical conducted for his trade from Brooklyn to Indiana revealed the guard had a lump on his kidney.

LeVert then had an operation to treat what turned out to be renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer, before making a full recovery.

But that will not necessarily be Tarrant’s diagnosis.

Tarrant’s health concern is completely unrelated to the groin injury that kept him sidelined for the Round 1 loss to Port Adelaide.

But the long-term absence of the gun defender is a cruel blow for North Melbourne, who are dealing with injuries to Luke McDonald (quad) and Trent Dumont (calf), Ben Cunnington (concussion) and Jed Anderson (calf).

Tarrant’s key defensive partner Aidan Corr could also miss Round 2 with a turf toe injury.