Kim Mickle will miss the remainder of the 2017 NAB AFLW season after scans confirmed a ruptured ACL.
The injury came late in the second quarter of Fremantle’s clash against Brisbane on Sunday at Fremantle Oval.
After sustaining the injury, Mickle came off the ground and took no further part in the game.
The news comes as a blow to an elite athlete who has represented Australia at Olympic and Commonwealth level in the javelin, but Mickle was upbeat about her future.
“The results of the scans were quite a shock,” Mickle said.
“I didn’t expect this to be a major injury at all, but you win some and you lose some, and now I just want to look ahead to what my options are and determine a course of action for my recovery.”
While the talented 32-year-old will no longer be able to contribute on the field, Mickle remains motivated to do everything she can to help her teammates for the remainder of the season.
“I’m really keen to be involved with the girls in some capacity,” Mickle said.
“We’ll work out what that looks like with the club over the next week or so.”
While senior coach Michelle Cowan felt for Mickle, she remains confident that an athlete of her calibre can bounce back.
“It’s devastating news for Kim but she is a person of great character,” Cowan said.
“I have no doubt that she’ll tackle this new challenge head on, and come back just as strong for it.”
