Brianna Davey will miss the rest of the AFLW season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in Carlton’s win over GWS.
Carlton head of football Andrew McKay said the confirmed scan results were disappointing for the newly-appointed club captain, who will undergo surgery on her right knee in the next week.
“Bri is an incredibly tough competitor so when we saw her go down in pain in that fourth quarter on Friday night, we knew it could be serious,” McKay said.
“She is clearly a star contributor in our backline, but her absence will now be an opportunity for our other AFLW defenders to step up on-field.
“While we are incredibly disappointed for her, the club will fully support Brianna in her rehabilitation process.”
Meanwhile, Tayla Harris will continue to be monitored throughout the week after sustaining a heavy knock to her left shoulder late in the fourth quarter on Friday night.
The injuries are a heavy price to pay for the Blues, who scored a 3.12 (30) to 1.3 (9) win at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval in a game heavily affected by weather.
The match was suspended for almost half an hour after the first quarter, when a heavy storm lashed the ground.