Young gun Aaron Naughton will have surgery to repair his left knee injury.

The 19-year-old sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Western Bulldogs’ elimination final loss to the GWS Giants.

Scans earlier this week confirmed lateral ligament damage, with the following specialist consultation determining Naughton would require surgery.

Naughton is expected to return to full training following the Christmas break. 

Midfield duo Lachie Hunter and Tom Liberatore will also have off-season surgery. 

Liberatore, who was hampered by knee soreness late in the season, will have an operation on his right knee to repair a cartilage injury.

Hunter had a left shoulder reconstruction earlier this week, and is expected to return to full training prior to the Christmas break. 

Mitch Wallis, who had surgery on a stress fracture in his lower leg earlier this year, has started running and is expected to return to full training before the end of 2019.