AFLW rising star ruptures ACL on birthday

Fremantle young gun Mikayla Morrison has become the latest AFLW player to be cut down by an ACL tear after she suffered the injury on her 20th birthday.

Morrison sustained the injury to her left knee at training on Tuesday night, ruling her out for the reason of the season and part of next year as well.

St Kilda vice-captain Rhiannon Watt and Collingwood midfielder Brittany Bonnici were cut down in round eight, meaning at least a dozen AFLW players have now suffered an ACL injury this season.

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Morrison made her debut against the Western Bulldogs in round four, and she won a rising star nomination with a three-goal haul against Carlton.

The knee injury continues a rotten run of luck for Morrison, who missed all of last season after suffering a severe ruptured appendix.

"It's incredibly disappointing that Mikayla will miss the rest of the season, after bursting onto the AFLW scene," Fremantle's head of football and performance Bob Murphy said.

"Mikayla was looking forward to finishing off the year strongly as we approach the upcoming AFLW finals series.

"We will make a decision in due course on when Mikayla will undertake surgery and begin her rehabilitation process."

Third-placed Fremantle (6-2) will be back in action on Saturday when they host second-placed Melbourne (7-1) at Optus Stadium.

Gun Dockers midfielder Kiara Bowers is expected to miss at least one more match with a knee injury.