AFLW standout Ruby Schleicher of Collingwood is not diagnosed with an ACL, but she is sidelined for the season.
Due to a knee injury, Collingwood star Ruby Schleicher will miss the remainder of the AFLW season; nonetheless, the dual All-Australian has escaped an ACL diagnosis.
Crucial points
Fears were present. Ruby Schleicher of Collingwood suffered an ACL tear late in the Sydney match.
Her PCL injury was confirmed by scans on Monday, ruling her out for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
Melbourne emerged victorious in both the men’s and women’s McClelland Trophy standings.
Schleicher sustained a posterior cruciate ligament tear, as determined by scans on Monday, after going down late in the Magpies’ Sunday loss to Sydney.
Despite the severity of the injury, the well-liked 25-year-old should be ready to play again come Collingwood’s 2024 season’s opening day.
When questioned about the defender at his Sunday post-game press conference, Magpies coach Steve Symonds had assumed the worst — an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Due to injuries, Schleicher, who is pursuing a career in media as a pundit with Fox Footy, missed the majority of the season and made his comeback in round eight.
“Ruby will continue to play a key role as a leader within our program for the remainder of the season and the entire program will continue to provide support throughout her rehabilitation and recovery period,” Jess Burger, Collingwood football coach, said.
Collingwood’s hopes of slipping into the finals before the last round of the regular season will be severely harmed by Schleicher’s absence.
The Magpies’ 19-point loss to the Swans cost them a fantastic chance to guarantee their place in the top eight.
However, going into this weekend, Collingwood (5-4) is still one of eight clubs, ranked from fifth to thirteenth on the ladder, that might make it to the playoffs.
As one of four clubs with 20 points, the Magpies’ victory over Richmond at Victoria Park on Sunday should be enough to sneak them into eighth place, but percentage will also be taken into consideration.
The Tigers (4-5) have an outside chance of making the finals as well, but they would need to defeat Collingwood handily given they are currently ranked 12th with a low percentage.
As predicted, Geelong, in seventh place, can secure their place in the playoffs by defeating Hawthorn on Saturday at Kardinia Park.
In their second season in the league, the Hawks have improved, although despite winning three of their nine games, they are currently ranked fourteenth.
If Gold Coast (fifth, 5-1-3) wins an exciting first round match against fifth-placed Essendon on Friday night in Mackay, they will advance to the finals for the second time in their history.
