Another knee injury to star recruit Bri Davey threatens to sour Collingwood’s AFLW opening round win over newcomers West Coast.
The Magpies’ 27-points victory at their Victoria Park home on Sunday was the final opening-round breakthrough by an AFLW foundation club, after GWS Giants claimed a narrow win against Gold Coast on Saturday.
The home team set up the 5.8.38 to 1.5.11 triumph by outscoring the Eagles into the wind in the third quarter and ex-netball star Sharni Layton put the seal on the win with a mark and goal midway through the last quarter.
But some gloss was taken away when Davey had to be helped off the field in the third term.
It was shocking misfortune for the ex-Carlton skipper in her debut with the Pies after she missed most of the 2018 season, having suffered a torn ACL in her right knee in round two.
The former Matildas goalkeeper was working her way into the play early in the second half when her left leg buckled in a marking contest.
She was left writhing on the turf, clutching her knee and play was halted before the distressed Davey limped off between two trainers.
The Magpies had blown open the contest when skipper Steph Chiocci kicked a crucial goal on the run to what was effectively the non-scoring end midway through the third term.
West Coast had first use of a stiff breeze and the visitors always threatened but struggled to breach a Magpies’ defence held together by Alana Porter and Stacey Livingstone.
The Eagles eventually broke through when vice-captain Dana Hooker was on target with a quick kick out of a pack for the opening goal after four minutes. But the Eagles generally didn’t take full advantage of their 9-0 inside 50 count.
The Magpies looked far more dangerous going forward and they would have been encouraged by the marks inside 50 stat that had been a problem in previous seasons.