AFLW reigning premiers Brisbane have confirmed luckless forward Gabby Collingwood suffered a ruptured right ACL in her return match from a left ACL tear.
Key points:
- Gabby Collingwood was helped off the field in the second quarter of Saturday’s thrilling win over Geelong
- Collingwood hadn’t played in almost two years, missing the end of the 2020 season and all of 2021, through her left ACL injury
- She is now one of five AFLW players to have suffered ACL injuries this season
Three weeks after the Lions lost brilliant premiership defender Kate Lutkins to the dreaded ligament injury, Collingwood had to be helped off the field in the second quarter of Saturday’s win over Geelong.
Collingwood hadn’t played in almost two years, missing the end of the 2020 season and all of 2021, including the Lions’ breakthrough flag, through her left ACL injury.
She won’t play again this season and the long rehabilitation time is likely to also cut into the 23-year-old’s 2023 campaign.
Collingwood joins Lutkins, Magpies superstar Brianna Davey, Western Bulldogs gun Isabel Huntington and Richmond key defender Harriet Cordner in suffering serious knee injuries this season.
“It’s difficult news to swallow, particularly after Gabby worked so hard to get back into the side after her first ACL injury,” Lions AFLW boss Breanna Brock said.
“Fortunately, she’s in good spirits and the team has really rallied behind her over the past few days as she looks ahead to rehabilitation again.”
Brisbane sit sixth in the AFLW, with a game in hand, following two wins on the bounce after their opening-round loss to Adelaide.
AAP