Gold Coast Sun Jade Pregelj becomes sixth player to injure ACL during AFLW's first four rounds

Another AFLW player has succumbed to a dreaded ACL injury, with Gold Coast defender Jade Pregelj to miss the rest of the 2022 season.

The 30-year-old was injured early in the Suns' upset win over Richmond on Sunday.

Pregelj, who has played all 19 games since Gold Coast's entry to the AFLW in 2020, had scans on Tuesday that confirmed the worst-case scenario.

She will meet with a specialist this week before having surgery.

«It's absolutely devastating news for Jade who is a much-loved teammate and has been so important for the club over our first three seasons,» Suns women's football boss Fiona Sessarago said.

Bri Davey was one of three seemingly struck down with the devastating injury, while round one provided plenty of on-field highlights, writes Kate O'Halloran.

«Jade is one of the toughest players at the Suns and we have full confidence she will attack her rehab to come back stronger than ever.»

Pregelj is the sixth AFLW player to suffer a serious knee injury during the first four rounds of the season, joining Brisbane Lions premiership hero Kate Lutkins and her teammate Gabby Collingwood, Western Bulldogs gun Isabel Huntington, Richmond defender Harriet Cordner and Collingwood superstar Brianna Davey.

It was Davey's second ACL rupture, and Huntington's third.

Last year, ACL injuries were at their lowest level since the league's inception in 2017.

AAP