Potential top draft pick Paddy Dow's season has ended with shoulder surgery after he was injured at TAC Cup level last month.

The Victorian midfielder went under the knife for an arthroscopic reconstruction for the shoulder problem, meaning he will be unavailable for the NAB AFL All Stars match in Grand Final week.

Dow had hoped to avoid surgery after the problem arose while he was playing for the Bendigo Pioneers against Gippsland Power in late August.

The 17-year-old gathered 35 disposals, had six clearances, seven inside-50s and booted two goals that day, in what would be the final appearance of his 2017 season.

The surgery means he is likely to have a delayed start to contact training once he joins an AFL club after the national draft on November 24.

Dow is in the mix to be the No.1 pick after showing his talents as a goalkicking midfielder across a consistent season. He can turn on his pace and get out into space, and combines that with a hard-nosed approach when winning his own touches.

Explosive half-forward/midfielder Cameron Rayner, hard-working midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke and classy on-baller Adam Cerra are also among the No.1 pick contenders. The Brisbane Lions hold the pick ahead of next month's trade period.