HEARTBREAK AS NINA OUT FOR YEAR
STAR CAT’S KNEE BLOW:
YOUNG Geelong star Nina Morrison will draw on the support of past knee reconstruction patients to help her through rehab after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament on Thursday night.
The No. 1 draft pick and Round 1 Rising Star nominee will spend up to 12 months on the sidelines after landing awkwardly when going for a mark at training, which ruptured her ACL.
Morrison becomes the latest in a long list of female footballers who have suffered season-ending knee injuries over the past three years, including 2017 No.1 draftee Isabel Huntington, Carlton captain Brianna Davey and Geelong teammates Melissa Hickey and Jordan Ivey.
It is the second knee injury to strike the Cats this season after Elise Coventry ruptured her ACL in a practice match against Carlton.
“She’ll receive tremendous support from her teammates — she is already,” coach Paul Hood told the Geelong Advertiser yesterday.
“She’s got a lot of people who really care about her at the Geelong footy club and they’ll do everything to make her feel as comfortable and as supported as they can.
“Obviously she’s disappointed, she had such a great game last week and was looking forward to having another one.
“But she’s a very resilient young lady and she’s already looking forward to starting her rehab, asking all the right questions and making sure she gives herself the best chance to recover as strong and as quick as possible.”
Hood said clubs would continue to be guided by the AFL around injury prevention.
Medical experts have previously noted how female players are more susceptible to ACL injuries than men, with research ongoing into bridging that gap.
“The AFL are doing tremendous work and research in that space and they give the clubs some good guidance on the best way to look after these injuries and support the players,” Hood said.
“The AFL are working really hard and I’m confident they’ll give everyone the best support they can.
“We always do whatever we can to support the players and put the strongest and most capable players out there on the field who are prepared as best we can, but, to be honest, I’m still really excited about the joy the game brought to so many people Saturday night.
“I’m looking forward to bringing joy to more supporters and players (tonight).”
Georgia Clarke will make her debut for Geelong against the Western Bulldogs tonight, while Phoebe McWilliams and Erin Hoare will also bolster Cats, who claimed a one-point win over Collingwood last weekend.