Luckless Brisbane midfielder Shanae Davison is likely to need scans to learn the extent of a “shattering” shoulder injury she suffered during the Lions’ AFLW season-opening loss to North Melbourne on Sunday.
The injury-prone 23-year-old has already had a wretched run during her injury-riddled career, which begun at West Coast before crossing to the Lions ahead of this season.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFLW midfielder goes down with shoulder injury.
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And she could be in trouble again after landing awkwardly on her right arm during the first quarter against the Kangaroos.
Davison went up for a mark and, as she fell backwards onto the ground, braced for the fall with both arms.
The right arm buckled under the force of the fall, jolting her wrist, elbow and shoulder joints.
Immediately knowing she had hurt herself, Davison cradled her arm in her footy jumper as teammate Kate Lutkins came over and showed great concern.
“Kate Lutkins is showing a lot of concern for her,” Kate McCarthy said on Channel 7.
“The thing to look at too is that it’s already heavily strapped, so it’s had complaints, and that does not look good.
“You could tell straight away from the concern that Lutkins showed — (she) called the trainer straight out.”
Jason Bennett added: “She’s had a bad run with injuries, poor Shanae.
“She’s played 18 games for the West Coast Eagles, she had a hamstring that ended her 2021 season, she had a knee in season seven, didn’t play a game at all last season. Coming off a career-best (pre-season), she makes her Brisbane debut (and) she might be out of the game in the opening term.
“Our thoughts are with Shanae.”
McCarthy said “it’s shattering” for the promising ball-winner.
“We don’t know the outcome, obviously, yet. But to work her way into this Brisbane team (in) Round 1 after her first ever pre-season — we know how competitive this team is to crack into — that’s a real credit to her off-season and we really hope it’s not as bad as first thought,” McCarthy said.
It didn’t help the defending AFLW premiers either, who were already a goal down, and never really got close to last year’s runners-up.
North Melbourne stormed to a statement 44-point win over Brisbane to claim bragging rights and early flag favouritism in their grand final rematch.
In brutal heat, North Melbourne’s big guns stepped up to claim a drought-breaking 12.6 (78) to 5.4 (34) win at Brighton Homes Arena in Brisbane on Sunday.
Incredibly, North had gone 0-5 in their previous encounters with Brisbane, including last year’s 17-point grand final defeat — but a burst of six unanswered third-quarter goals ensured that wouldn’t happen again.
In the process, the Kangaroos inflicted Brisbane’s heaviest ever defeat, eclipsing Melbourne’s 39-point win over the Lions in 2019.
North’s midfield stars Jasmine Garner (28 disposals, six clearances, 17 contested possessions, one goal) and Ash Riddell (31 disposals, one goal) were typically brilliant, while captain Emma Kearney was superb off half-back.
Power forward Tahlia Randall was in everything, while Alice O’Loughlin and Bella Eddey kicked two goals apiece.
Brisbane star Ally Anderson (29 disposals, 15 clearances, 19 contested possessions) was a rare shining light for Craig Starcevich’s charges, with some help from winger Sophie Conway.
North’s Irishwoman Vikki Wall (two goals) drew first blood, while O’Loughlin struck late as the Kangaroos kept Brisbane goalless in the opening quarter and took a 12-point lead into quarter-time.
Tempers flared when Wall tackled Shannon Campbell on the quarter-time siren and then flung her to ground.
With temperatures hitting 35 degrees, extreme heat measures were in place
Dakota Davidson and Taylor Smith gave the Lions a foothold in the game, but North took a 12-point lead into half-time.
But Riddell teed up Garner early in the term and the Lions appeared shell-shocked as North romped away from there.
The Kangaroos kicked the next five goals while keeping Brisbane scoreless for the quarter to lead by 49 at the final change.
North’s score in the third quarter alone (37 points) surpassed their previous highest total match score against the Lions (33 points).
Anderson stopped the rot when she jagged the first goal of the final term, but the damage had been done.
North’s O’Loughlin could come under match review officer scrutiny for a fourth-quarter tackle on Campbell, where the Lion’s head slammed into the ground.
Brisbane next travel to play Melbourne at Casey Fields on Saturday, while North Melbourne host Geelong at Arden Street Oval.
– With AAP