Scans have confirmed GIANTS defender Mai Nguyen has ruptured her ACL and will miss the remainder of the NAB AFL Women’s season.
Nguyen suffered the injury in the first quarter of the GIANTS’ loss to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
After starting the game brightly with three disposals and a mark in defence, Nguyen landed awkwardly in a marking contest and was not able to return to the field for the remainder of the game.
Scans on Sunday night confirmed Nguyen had suffered the season-ending knee injury.
“It is extremely disappointing to lose Mai for the rest of the season,” said coach Tim Schmidt.
“After missing the first game due to injury, Mai was really starting to return to her best form and started extremely well on Saturday.
“You don’t want to see anyone from any club doing their ACL and missing 12 months of football, but especially one of your own and a quality person and player like Mai is.
“We know she’ll bounce back bigger and better in 2018.”
After a foot injury interrupted her pre-season, Nguyen made her AFLW debut in round two against Carlton and played three games in her first taste of elite women’s football.
The Cabramatta local was selected with pick 49 in the inaugural NAB AFLW Draft from the UNSW-ES Stingrays in the AFL Sydney Women’s competition.
A physiotherapist off the field, Nguyen will see a specialist on Tuesday to determine a schedule for her surgery and recovery with an eye on the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s season.
The GIANTS’ next AFLW game is on Friday night as part of a huge double-header at Blacktown International Sportspark. The AFLW team take on Melbourne from 5:05pm while the AFL team take on the Swans at 7:40pm.
GIANTS AFL and AFLW members (with game access) receive free entry (subject to capacity) or click here to purchase your tickets now.
