Essendon celebrity Bonnie Toogood will miss the vast majority of the AFLW season after scans confirmed she suffered a knee pressure throughout a sickening collision with Bombers teammate Amber Clarke.
Toogood shall be sidelined for as much as eight weeks after hurting her MCL when operating into Clarke in the course of the second quarter of Essendon’s round-one defeat to Fremantle at Windy Hill on Saturday.
Key ahead Toogood was steaming ahead to take a mark inside 50 when she collected Clarke, who had run into her path seemingly utterly unawares.
The pair clashed heads, then Clarke’s head bounced on the bottom when she landed.
Play was stopped as medics cared for Clarke, then took her from the sector on a stretcher.
In the meantime, Toogood was visibly distraught on the sidelines and had remedy on her knee.
Bombers co-captain Bonnie Toogood will miss many of the AFLW season. (Getty Photos: Daniel Pockett)
Essendon led by eight factors on the time — after Daria Bannister kicked the opening objective on return from an ACL tear — however appeared rattled by the incident.
Clarke was concussed within the incident, however she was assessed in hospital on Saturday night time and he or she averted any neck injury or facial fractures.
“It is extraordinarily unlucky for Bonnie and Amber to should spend time on the sidelines,” Essendon’s medical boss Megan Smith mentioned.
“The incident was a heavy conflict between the 2 gamers, with each exhibiting excessive dedication to the ball.
“Whereas we’re dissatisfied that Bonnie shall be out for a major a part of the season, we’re relieved that there isn’t a injury to her ACL.
“Bonnie will start rehab with the goal of returning later within the 12 months.”
Toogood’s absence is a serious blow for Essendon’s hopes of constructing on a breakthrough finals look final season.
Essendon will not be placing any time line on Clarke’s return, however she may technically be obtainable for the Bombers’ round-three match if she exits the concussion protocols on time.
AAP
