SANFL player Katelyn Rosenzweig taken to hospital with suspected spinal injuries after incident at Alberton Oval
A former AFLW player has been cleared of any serious spinal damage following an incident during an exhibition game at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
A player taken to hospital after an incident during a woman’s football exhibition “Showdown” has been cleared of any serious spinal damage.
Katelyn Rosenzweig was rushed by ambulance to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after she flew for a mark and hit the turf hard in the final quarter of the match between a “Port Adelaide” and “Crows” team at Alberton Oval on Sunday.
The 19-year-old speedy forward was playing for Adelaide in the “Showdown” and a Crows spokeswoman said doctors were keeping Rosenzweig in hospital overnight for observation.
The spokeswoman said Rosenzweig was being treated for ligament damage and inflammation but had not done any serious damage to her spine, like first suspected.
The potential seriousness of her injury was quickly recognised and the game was called off early with about 10 minutes to go – Port won by 36 points.
Rosenzweig remained out on the field, surrounded by both Port and Crows medical staff for nearly an hour.
It pushed back the start of the SANFL men’s clash between Port Adelaide and Glenelg by 10 minutes.
When Rosenzweig was loaded into the ambulance she was applauded by the crowd at Alberton.
Rosenzweig was selected by the Crows with pick No.41 at last year’s AFLW draft but failed to break into the strong line-up and was delisted in April.
She featured in eight SANFLW matches with Central District this season after switching to the Bulldogs from North Adelaide, where she claimed the 2018 leading goal kicker award.
Rosenzweig, who grew up as an avid Crows supporter in Tanunda, had an interrupted pre-season with Adelaide this year after being forced to recover from minor neck surgery.
The women’s “Showdown” was the last official chance for AFLW draft hopefuls to light up the field in front of recruiters ahead of the October 23 draft.