FURTHER tests on Monday will determine if Mel Hickey has injured her anterior cruciate ligament, after the star Demon suffered the injury against Carlton at the Ikon Park on Sunday.

Coach Mick Stinear said the club was hoping for the best possible outcome, but was unsure what damage had been done to Hickey’s knee, after she suffered the injury in the third term of Melbourne’s 35-point win.

“The medicos are keen to look at the scans – they’re not conclusive on what it is,” he said.

“Mel was quite upset, but we hoping it’s not an ACL, but we’ll wait-and-see.

“The support around her – we couldn’t ask for anything more and tomorrow (Monday) we’ll have a better idea. I just hope for her sake – because she’s such a quality person, and she’s put so much into this team – that it’s nothing to sinister, so fingers crossed.”

Stinear added that speedster Aliesha Newman, who hobbled from the ground in the final quarter, “was fine”.  

“There were a few sore bodies, because last week’s game against Brisbane was pretty physical and then today, they (Melbourne) certainly brought their best and didn’t stop trying for four quarters,” he said.

“It’ll take a few days for the bodies to come good, but then the idea of playing pretty much a ‘preliminary final’ next week will get them up-and-about pretty quickly.”

Stinear said defender Bianca Jakobsson, who missed the clash against her former side, due to a quadriceps injury, was likely to return against the Bulldogs at VU Whitten Oval next Saturday night. 

“She was able to do a fair bit, training wise this morning,” he said.

“But it’ll be tough at the selection table – the way the team’s performing, so that’s exactly what we want.”

Meanwhile, Stinear praised the efforts of key forward Tegan Cunningham, who bounced back strongly from a heavy collision last round and produced an outstanding three-goal performance against the Blues.

“She was really impressive – she realised she was on a footy field and not a basketball court last week,” he said.

“She was never in doubt to play – even though it was a solid hit to the nose. It was all about ‘how do I get myself right to play out there with the girls?’

“She gives us such a good target up forward and if she doesn’t mark it, she brings it to ground. She played a critical role and she’s such a competitor – her teammates look up to her.

“Tegan is one of those competitors for us – along with Shelley Scott ... and our captain Daisy Pearce. They have an impact those players – they have a will to win, and they’re ruthlessly competitive and stand-up at the right times.”