Round 1 of the AFLW season was largely a huge success, with the standard of the competition once again on the rise.
However, that narrative has been overshadowed by four seemingly serious injuries to star players.
Reigning premiers Brisbane were hit with two crushing blows during their loss to Adelaide on Sunday, with star defender Kate Lutkins (knee) and key forward Dakota Davidson (ankle) going down.
The pair were the pillars of the Lions’ 2021 run and coach Craig Starcevich admitted post-game that the injuries “didn’t look good”.
The Western Bulldogs are also reeling after star forward Isobel Huntington went down clutching her knee during their loss to Melbourne.
Huntington, last year’s Rising Star winner and an All-Australian, has previously ruptured her ACL twice.
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Things went from bad to worse on Sunday afternoon, when Collingwood midfielder and 2021 league best and fairest Brianna Davey also went down holding her knee.
Davey, who has also previously torn an ACL, would be a crushing loss for the Magpies who are one of the premiership contenders.
"Fingers crossed it's positive news for her, but at this stage, it's still a little bit too early to say," Collingwood coach Steve Symonds said after the win over Carlton.
Huntington, Davey and Lutkins are arguably in the top 10 best players in the competition, while Davidson would be in the top 30.
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