MELBOURNE has provided an injury update ahead of its first official AFLW practice match against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday.
In disappointing news for Grace Beasley, the midfielder will miss the 2026 NAB AFLW season after injuring her left ACL during the club’s match simulation against Richmond last Friday.
General Manager of AFLW Katrina Gill said it was a tough setback for Beasley, who successfully recovered from a torn ACL in her opposite knee in 2024.
“It’s shattering for Grace and also her teammates who have seen how hard she worked to get back to full fitness last year,” Gill said.
“We’ll put all our love and support around Grace through this difficult time as she prepares for surgery. We know she’ll attack her rehabilitation with the same determined attitude and energy she brings to the club every day.”
Defender Sinead Goldrick is making good progress from a knee injury and is aiming to be available for the AFLW NAB Australia v Ireland game in Sydney on Saturday 1 August.
Unfortunately, Maeve Chaplin will miss the representative game after suffering a foot injury during Melbourne's match simulation against Geelong.
"Maeve sustained heavy impact to her right foot during a contest against Geelong and subsequent scans showed a fracture," Gill said.
"It’s disappointing for Maeve to be sidelined for the rest of pre-season, including the Australia v Ireland match which she was really looking forward to.
“The positive is that the injury didn’t require surgery and we expect Maeve to be back in the early rounds of the season. In the meantime, she will continue to play a big role as a leader of our club.”
Irish rookie Aoife Horisk is on the mend after having surgery on her left ankle following an injury at training.
“It was unlucky for Aoife to be injured especially so soon after arriving in Australia, but she’s been very diligent in her rehabilitation,” Gill said.
“We expect Aoife to start running in the coming week and ramp up her recovery from there.”
Ruck Lauren Pearce also undergone surgery after sustaining an injury to her left knee.
"Lauren felt some pain in her knee and in consultation with our medical team it was decided that surgery was the best course of action," Gill said.
"Lauren will miss the start of the season, but we know she is an absolute professional and the surgery will allow her to be fit and firing when she returns.”
Draftee Chloe Baker-West continues to manage a stress response in her leg.
"Chloe has had a frustrating run with injuries over the past couple of years, Gill said.
"We want to set Chloe up for long-term success and will take a conservative approach with her recovery. Chloe is very resilient and is working hard to get back on the track with her teammates."
In positive news, Olivia Purcell has completed her recovery from an ACL injury, taking part in the club’s match simulation against Richmond.
Kate Hore and Georgia Campbell have both returned to full training following off-season shoulder surgeries, while Jacinta Hose played her first official game in three years in the match simulation against Geelong.
The 20-year-old ruck has enjoyed a strong pre-season and is aiming to make her long-awaited debut in 2026.
Tayla Harris (calf), Ryleigh Wotherspoon (shoulder) and Laela Ebert (knee) won’t play against Port Adelaide on Saturday, but will be available for Melbourne’s season-opener against Hawthorn on Thursday 13 August.
Injury List
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| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
22. Eliza McNamara |
Quad |
Available
“Eliza was ruled out of our matches against Port Adelaide and Essendon after suffering a cork to her quad,” Keily said. “She’s tracking well and we’re doing all we can to make sure that she’s right for Round 1.” Read Article |
|
12. Ryleigh Wotherspoon |
Shoulder |
Available
“Ryleigh has recovered from a minor shoulder injury which she sustained in our practice match against Richmond,” Keily said. “She’ll now be available for selection in Round 1.” |
|
19. Laela Ebert |
Knee |
Test
“Laela is building up her loads following that knee injury and will need to pass a fitness in the coming week to be available for the season-opener,” Keily said. |
|
23. Sinéad Goldrick |
Knee |
Test
“We were aiming for Sinead to play some minutes in the Australia v Ireland match but she was unfortunately not medically cleared to return for that game,” Keily said. “She’s tracking well through her rehab, with the hopes to be available for Round 1.” Read Article |
|
9. Georgia Gall |
Concussion |
Protocols
“Georgia suffered a concussion following a head knock in our practice game against Port Adelaide,” Keily said. “She continues to progress through the concussion protocols.” |
|
13. Maeve Chaplin |
Foot |
3 - 4 weeks
“Maeve is tracking well through her rehab of that foot injury,” Keily said. “She’s moved out of a boot and has started lower body strength work with the aim to begin running next week.” |
|
15. Lauren Pearce |
Knee |
3 - 4 weeks
“Lauren is progressing well and we’ll look to ramp up her rehab in the coming fortnight,” Keily said. Read Article |
|
33. Aoife Horisk |
Ankle |
3 - 4 weeks
“Aoife has returned to running and is now focusing on building her loads,” Keily said. “We’re hoping to get her back into some training soon.” |
|
28. Saraid Taylor |
Calf |
3 - 4 weeks
“Saraid unfortunately suffered a low-grade calf strain prior to our practice match with Port Adelaide,” Keily said. “She’s now started working through her rehab program.” Read Article |
|
Jorja Livingstone |
Wrist |
TBC
“Unfortunately, Jorja will have a delayed start to her career as a Demon after fracturing her wrist against Port Adelaide,” Keily said. “The injury didn’t require surgery and a timeframe for her recovery will be determined after further assessment this week.” |
|
18. Chloe Baker-West |
Leg |
Season
“It’s disappointing that Chloe won’t have the opportunity to play in her first AFLW season, but we want to make sure we set her up for success in the longer term,” Keily said. “Chloe has taken a very mature approach to her rehabilitation and is determined to be fit and firing to attack next pre-season.” |
|
16. Grace Beasley |
Knee |
Season
“It’s shattering for Grace and also her teammates who have seen how hard she worked to get back to full fitness last year,” Gill said. “We’ll put all our love and support around Grace through this difficult time as she prepares for surgery. We know she’ll attack her rehabilitation with the same determined attitude and energy she brings to the club every day.” Read Article |
22. Eliza McNamara
“Eliza was ruled out of our matches against Port Adelaide and Essendon after suffering a cork to her quad,” Keily said. “She’s tracking well and we’re doing all we can to make sure that she’s right for Round 1.”
Read Article
12. Ryleigh Wotherspoon
“Ryleigh has recovered from a minor shoulder injury which she sustained in our practice match against Richmond,” Keily said. “She’ll now be available for selection in Round 1.”
19. Laela Ebert
“Laela is building up her loads following that knee injury and will need to pass a fitness in the coming week to be available for the season-opener,” Keily said.
23. Sinéad Goldrick
“We were aiming for Sinead to play some minutes in the Australia v Ireland match but she was unfortunately not medically cleared to return for that game,” Keily said. “She’s tracking well through her rehab, with the hopes to be available for Round 1.”
Read Article
9. Georgia Gall
“Georgia suffered a concussion following a head knock in our practice game against Port Adelaide,” Keily said. “She continues to progress through the concussion protocols.”
13. Maeve Chaplin
“Maeve is tracking well through her rehab of that foot injury,” Keily said. “She’s moved out of a boot and has started lower body strength work with the aim to begin running next week.”
15. Lauren Pearce
“Lauren is progressing well and we’ll look to ramp up her rehab in the coming fortnight,” Keily said.
Read Article
33. Aoife Horisk
“Aoife has returned to running and is now focusing on building her loads,” Keily said. “We’re hoping to get her back into some training soon.”
28. Saraid Taylor
“Saraid unfortunately suffered a low-grade calf strain prior to our practice match with Port Adelaide,” Keily said. “She’s now started working through her rehab program.”
Read Article
Jorja Livingstone
“Unfortunately, Jorja will have a delayed start to her career as a Demon after fracturing her wrist against Port Adelaide,” Keily said. “The injury didn’t require surgery and a timeframe for her recovery will be determined after further assessment this week.”
18. Chloe Baker-West
“It’s disappointing that Chloe won’t have the opportunity to play in her first AFLW season, but we want to make sure we set her up for success in the longer term,” Keily said. “Chloe has taken a very mature approach to her rehabilitation and is determined to be fit and firing to attack next pre-season.”
16. Grace Beasley
“It’s shattering for Grace and also her teammates who have seen how hard she worked to get back to full fitness last year,” Gill said. “We’ll put all our love and support around Grace through this difficult time as she prepares for surgery. We know she’ll attack her rehabilitation with the same determined attitude and energy she brings to the club every day.”
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