Maeve Chaplin, Mia Austin and Lauren Pearce will test to face the Lions.
DYNAMIC defender Maeve Chaplin has returned to full training and is a chance to make her football return this Sunday against the Giants.
The 2025 All Australian will face a fitness test to prove her health ahead of the crucial early-season test against the Lions.
“Maeve is trending really well,” AFLW High Performance Manager Josh Keily said.
“She fully trained today and we'll look to fully train the rest of the week to be a test for the weekend.”
New recruit Mia Austin’s red-hot start to her Demons career could continue should she pass her own fitness test, having injured her ankle early against the Giants.
“Unfortunately Mia suffered an ankle sprain on the weekend.
“She will be a test pending how her ankle pulls up from that incident.”
Ruck Lauren Pearce is the third Demon listed as a test for Sunday after missing the Giants clash as a late withdrawal.
“She was initially a test for the game on the weekend but just with a little niggle we decided to go conservative.
“We'll look to test her this week in the lead up to Brisbane.”
Irish Demon Aoife Horisk has played her first organised Australian Football match after recovering from an ankle injury.
“Aoife did really well, she's officially cleared rehab.
“She got a game in the VFLW on the weekend which was awesome for her to see her first match experience of AFLW.”
Second-year forward Maggie Mahony will miss again following last week’s concussion.
“Maggie unfortunately had an incident with a football last week at training.
“She has entered concussion protocol so won't be available for this week.”
Grace Beasley’s ACL rehabilitation is underway after successful surgery last week.
“Grace had a successful ACL reconstruction surgery last Tuesday.
“All went well and sounds like we'll see her in the club at the back end of this week but it's tracking really well.
Saraid Taylor (calf), Georgia Livingstone (wrist) and Jacinta Hose (ankle) continue to work through their respective programs.
Livingstone will soon be ready to ramp up her comeback.
“She'll have a follow up X ray in about two weeks and will then look to increase her training loads.
“Georgia will integrate into training drills from there, so just in the meantime is working on her running volumes in the background.”
“Unfortunately, Jacinta suffered a high-grade ankle sprain during the match on Thursday night,” Keily said.
“She’ll remain in a boot for a period of time and then once she’s out of the boot, we can start to re-load her.
“While it’s disappointing that she could be sidelined for up to eight weeks, we’re hopeful she’ll return for some more footy in 2026.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Unfortunately, Jacinta suffered a high-grade ankle sprain during the match on Thursday night,” Keily said.
“She’ll remain in a boot for a period of time and then once she’s out of the boot, we can start to re-load her.
“While it’s disappointing that she could be sidelined for up to eight weeks, we’re hopeful she’ll return for some more footy in 2026.”
“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.”
“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.”
