Defender sweating on knee injury recovery
BRISBANE defender Nicole Hildebrand may have escaped the ultimate AFLW grand final heartache with the Lions, saying she remained in contention to take on the Crows on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Hildebrand is one of the Lions’ most experienced players and a key cog in coach Craig Starcevich’s defence and he has declared she will be given until the final moments if needed to prove her fitness.
Starcevich will name Hildebrand in the Lions’ extended squad that must be lodged with the AFL tonight.
The defender limped from the field with a knee injury late in the Lions’ draw with Carlton on Sunday.
She was in obvious pain on the sidelines and also showed the signs of considerable distress as she contemplated missing out on the AFLW premiership decider.
However, scans have revealed she has escaped major structural damage and she has recovered well in recent days.
“She is going OK,’’ Starcevich said. “It was a hyperextended knee and she has some bone bruising but everything is intact, there is no ligament damage.
“There is still a little bit of doubt but it is looking more positive than negative.’’
The AFLW grand final will be played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.
Management at the Gabba ground in Brisbane deemed the surface “unsafe” for Saturday’s final after some damage caused by two Adele concerts.
However, officials say the Brisbane men’s team will be able to host their April 1 AFL season opener against Essendon at the Gabba.
THE COAST SCIENTIST WHO IS A LIONS STAR, P3