MAYO STAR GRACE Kelly has been ruled out for the remainder of the Australian Football League Women’s [AFLW] season, her club have confirmed.
West Coast Eagles announced that the 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in her side’s clash with Gold Coast on Saturday, but thankfully, it’s not an anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] blow.
Kelly sustained damage to her medial cruciate ligament [MCL] when she got tangled up in a scramble at Mineral Resources Park. Her ACL was not affected and she is unlikely to require surgery.
With uncertainty surrounding the finish of the season amid the COVID-19 coronavirus, there are currently two round matches and finals yet to play. A decision is yet to be made tomorrow, with AFLW players asking for a new finals structure.
It’s unclear how this would impact the large number of Irish players hoping to come home to play Gaelic football.
But West Coast head of female football Adam Selwood says the club will support Kelly through her rehabilitation process.
“Scans have confirmed that Grace suffered a grade three MCL injury,” he said.
Fortunately her ACL is intact, which is great news. She is facing a prolonged recovery, but one that is over a matter of weeks rather than a 9-12 month turnaround.
“We will do everything possible to support Grace during her rehabilitation before she returns to Ireland.”
Elsewhere, fears have been eased as it’s been confirmed that Dublin and Melbourne FC star Sinéad Goldrick has not seriously injured her quad. Scans show the Foxrock-Cabinteely defender has suffered a “corky,” and she will be managed this week.
The news comes after Donegal star Yvonne Bonner sustained a nasty ankle injury in Oz, and Áine Tighe’s season with Fremantle ended before it started after an ACL blow.
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Clonlara and Cratloe between them could probably give a decent game to the likes of Offaly Wexford and Antrim with that amount of quality in their club teams
Hard to believe there are no players from Clarecastle, Sixmilebridge, Barefield & Wolfe Tones in the starting 15. The 90′s team was predominantly made up of players from these clubs.
Why don’t you do your job properly? You forgot Eire Og!
Hi Kieran,
Just went with the clubs that supply players to the starting side as the substitutes have not been officially announced yet.
Am aware that Shane O’Donnell of Eire Og will probably be on the bench.
Thanks,
Fintan
The clue is in the title