AFLW Injury Report: ACL Returns Boost Bombers and Eagles as Saints Lose Vesely

The stakes are rising as the 2026 AFLW season crosses the halfway mark, and the medical rooms are dictating the terms of engagement. Ahead of the marquee Grand Final Eve clash at Windy Hill this Friday at 12:05pm AEST, both Essendon and West Coast are welcoming back crucial reinforcements from long-term knee reconstructions, fundamentally shifting the tactical board.[1][2]

For the Bombers, the headline is the triumphant return of Amelia Radford. After a grueling rehabilitation from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, Radford successfully completed scrimmage minutes over the weekend. She is now officially available for senior selection for the first time since her injury, injecting fresh midfield depth into an Essendon side looking to make a statement.[1]

The news is not entirely clean for Essendon, however. Forward Daria Bannister experienced knee soreness following Sunday's fixture and will be sidelined for one to two weeks. Meanwhile, Maddison Gay is facing a late fitness test after scans confirmed a posterior subluxation injury to her shoulder, sustained during a tackle attempt in Round 2 against Sydney.[1]

"Daria Bannister has since experienced knee soreness following Sunday's match, which will see her sidelined for two to three weeks," the club confirmed in its official Tuesday update, though the estimated return is listed as one week on the medical board. Emma Dineen also joins the casualty ward, facing a four-to-five week recovery from a lower back injury.[1]

On the other side of the Friday ledger, the West Coast Eagles are celebrating their own ACL milestone. Talented youngster Courtney Rowley ticked off the final markers of her rehabilitation program, completing a scrimmage on the weekend and clearing the final hurdles for her return.[2]

"Courtney Rowley made her return on the weekend through scrimmage," West Coast High Performance Manager Sam Batterton said on Monday. "She got through unscathed and will be available for selection this weekend."[2]

The Eagles will need Rowley's fresh legs, as they lose defender Zoe Wakfer to the AFL's mandatory concussion protocols. Wakfer sustained a head knock in the final term of Sunday's victory over St Kilda. "She will be unavailable for the upcoming game against Essendon this weekend as she works through those protocols," Batterton confirmed.[2]

West Coast is also sweating on the availability of first-year midfielder Mia Russo, who suffered a low-grade ankle sprain, and Abby Bushby, who is recovering from an adductor strain. Both are listed as tests for the Windy Hill showdown.[2]

Across the league, St Kilda is grappling with a bitter blow to their engine room. The Saints confirmed on Monday night that 26-year-old midfielder Olivia Vesely will miss an extended period after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury suffered during Round 5's clash with Richmond. Vesely was withdrawn at half-time, with subsequent scans dictating surgical intervention.[3]

"Liv is such an important part of our team both on and off the field, and we know she'll continue to have a really positive impact around the group throughout her recovery," St Kilda General Manager of AFLW Jessie Mulholland said.[3]

The silver lining for the Saints comes in the form of 25-year-old forward Nicola Xenos. After rupturing her ACL late in the 2025 campaign, Xenos has been officially cleared to return to St Kilda's primary list, providing a massive psychological and tactical boost for the squad.[3]

Meanwhile, Hawthorn is preparing for their Thursday night Round 7 clash with reinforcements on the horizon. Laura Stone and Greta Bodey are both on track to return from concussions, having navigated the mandatory protocols.[4]

"Both are at the end stage of that return-to-play protocol. They trained fully today, full contact, and got through really well," Hawthorn High Performance Manager Aaron Kellett noted on Monday. The Hawks are already navigating the remainder of the 2026 season without captain Emily Bates, who suffered a devastating ACL tear earlier in the year.[4][5]