St Kilda forward Nadia von Bertouch will miss the remainder of the AFLW season, but Collingwood star Bri Davey is a chance to take on her former team Carlton in round two after being cleared of serious injury.
Von Bertouch has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee.
The 24-year-old suffered the injury during the third quarter of Sunday’s defeat to the Western Bulldogs, but played out the game.
“It’s devastating that we will be without Nadia for the rest of the year,” Saints coach Peta Searle said.
“The way she played on Sunday was just a glimpse of her tenacity and courage, and how she was able to pick herself up after several heavy knocks was inspiring to the girls.”
There were initial fears Davey had suffered a broken leg when she was taken from the field during the third quarter of the Magpies’ win on Sunday over West Coast.
Scans on Monday revealed soft tissue damage, but no other injury.
Magpies medical staff will monitor Davey this week before determining whether she is fit to play against the Blues on Sunday at Ikon Park.
“We will assess Bri through the week in rehab and on the training track and look to make a call on her playing the Carlton match at training on Friday,” Collingwood AFLW physical performance manager Chris Howley said.
North Melbourne are also counting the cost of a round-one defeat, with young forward Daria Bannister set to undergo surgery on Tuesday after fracturing her left clavicle (collarbone) in a blow to the club’s premiership chances.
Bannister was injured in a tackle late in the flag favourites’ upset loss to Melbourne on Saturday at Casey Fields.
The 20-year-old, who has managed just four AFLW games in three seasons, will be sidelined for at least three weeks.
Fremantle are still waiting to learn the full extent of Stephanie Cain’s knee injury, sustained in the opening moments of the Dockers’ win over Geelong.