AFLW Draft 2025: Gold Coast academy star Ava Usher opens up about ACL recovery and choosing football
Ava Usher could have been a WNBA star or Olympic swimmer, but after spending two years on the sidelines with a knee injury, she’s set to be one of the first names read out in Monday’s AFLW draft.
In another universe, Ava Usher would be playing basketball in the WNBA.
Or she would be a professional ironwoman.
Or she’d be representing Australia in swimming at the Olympics.
But in this one, Usher is destined to be an AFLW star.
A supremely talented junior athlete, Usher used to juggle all four sports, winning medals and making state and representative teams in each.
But in 2023, she had a decision to make.
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Two years later, touted as the best player in this year’s draft pool, it seems Usher has made the right one.
“It’s pretty surreal to see where I am now,” Usher told CODE Sports.
“I probably would’ve been an ironwoman or played college basketball over in America, but I’m super grateful for the pathways I’ve had in football.
“I just love the physicality of it, getting in there, getting my hands dirty. I think it’s just such an amazing sport.”
Not only was 2023 a decisive year for Usher, but it was also the last time she played a competitive game of football.
In May, as a 15-year-old star of the Suns Academy, she won the Pool B best and fairest at the Under-16 national championships, underlining her status as one of the best junior footballers in the country.
Later that year, she doubled up at the Under-18 championships, winning All-Australian selection in the midfield after a stunning campaign for Queensland.
Closer to home, Usher needed a special permit to maker her QAFLW debut in round two for Bond University, alongside sister Aleira, after her under-17 peers complained about her physicality.
Later that year, she won a premiership with the Bullsharks and was named the league’s rising star.
“It was pretty special,” Usher said of her stunning 2023 season.
“I think most people forget about that. Looking back at it now, I’m actually quite proud of myself with those achievements.”
But a few months later, Usher was dealt a devastating blow.
It was March 2024, when her knee buckled during a Gold Coast academy training session.
“I didn’t want to believe it,” Usher said.
“In the moment, I got back up and I was just like, ‘let’s keep going’ and then they were like, ‘No, it’s the loosest ACL we’ve ever seen.’”
Usher was ruled out for the entire 2024 season.
She started training five days after the setback and was in the gym right up until the day of her surgery.
Usher planned to return to the field in mid-2025 until a scare at training made her second-guess.
During a stint with the AFLW Academy, she landed awkwardly and was sent for scans.
Luckily, she was cleared of any major damage, but she decided to undergo a minor clean-up procedure anyway to prepare for 2026.
Usher was desperate to return to the field later in the season and was curiously scratched from AFLW national combine testing in October.
But despite missing two years of football, the 18-year-old wouldn’t change a thing.
“An ACL is tough, but I’m tougher,” Usher said.
“I look back and I don’t regret it for a second. It’s made me a much more mature person and a much more mature player.
“Not once has a backward step been taken. I’ve taken more forward steps, to be honest.
“I think it was the best thing that ever happened to my knee. It’s in pristine condition right now, and I’m ready for 2026.”
Usher has also journaled her entire ACL journey and is open to sharing her experiences with other athletes going through the same thing.
It’s not the only way she’s remained laser-focused while sidelined. Usher has spent the year helping coach Queensland, Bond University and the Suns while also completing a diploma in coaching and fitness.
“Once I was on the other side of the line, I just couldn’t take my mind off footy straight away, so I had to look at it from a different perspective and I definitely think that’s improved my game as well,” she said.
While her family and friends have been there every step of the way, Usher also has friends in high places.
When she was 11 years old, she won the Tayla Harris Award at the Queensland school AFL state championships as the best player in the state at that age.
She received a personalised video from the AFLW icon and the pair have kept in contact ever since, even catching up for coffee earlier this year after a national academy commitment.
“We didn’t really talk much about football, to be honest, it was more about life,” Usher said.
“She remembers when she was my age. She did chuck in that Melbourne would love to have me and I was just like, ‘Oh, it’s a bit too cold for me over there.’ She’s been a great role model for me.”
It’s widely expected that Usher will end up a Sun on Monday night, with Gold Coast securing a slew of selections to match bids for its academy stars.
But in a stunning admission, the Palm Beach Currumbin junior has revealed that she almost didn’t pledge her allegiance to the Suns, with rival clubs aware that she was desperate to get back on the park this season.
We're sooooo caught up with 2025 draft prospect Ava Usher's insane highlights 😱 pic.twitter.com/tVPRYxaWpG
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) August 2, 2023
“I nearly didn’t, to be honest with you,” Usher said.
“There were three minutes left before the cut-off when I decided to sign it.
“I showed them my commitment, but I’m definitely not afraid to go anywhere, and they know that as well.
“At the end of the day, it’s what’s best for me and my football career. If that’s not at home, then that’s not at home.”
In saying that, five Gold Coast academy players have been invited to the official draft function in Melbourne and Usher is aware she could be part of a red and gold dynasty.
“It would feel like what it was when we were younger,” she said.
“We’ve all played together since we were 12. We’ve all grown up to be different players, but I think our chemistry is unmatched. It’s going to be pretty exciting to see what that looks like in 2026.”
Wherever she lands on Monday night, Usher’s goal is clear.
As determined as she is highly-touted, Usher just wants to play football again, this time at the highest level.
“My goal is to come into a club and make an impact straight away as a first-year player,” she said.
“I pride myself on being the hardest worker in the room and earning everyone’s respect. I’ll push 10-year players even though I’m a 1st year player.
“It might seem like a tough goal to other people, but I’m willing to work my bum off to reach that goal and round one is definitely the goal.”
Originally published as AFLW Draft 2025: Gold Coast academy star Ava Usher opens up about ACL recovery and choosing football
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