AFL 2023: Gold Coast Suns defender Wil Powell’s season over after scans reveal ligament damage

Wil Powell’s season is over – but the news could have been a lot worse after a second horror ankle injury in as many seasons.

Luckless Gold Coast defender Wil Powell has avoided a repeat of his horror ankle break but the young Sun’s season is over.

Scans on Monday revealed the 23-year-old had sustained ligament damage in his left ankle after landing awkwardly in a marking contest during Saturday’s 28-point loss to Adelaide.

Suns head of physio Lindsay Bull revealed Powell would likely have surgery this week with an expected recovery time of 12 weeks.

While it’s a devastating blow for the dashing defender, it’s a much better outcome than what was first feared when he went down late in the final quarter at the weekend.

The match was put on hold for several minutes as Powell was taken from the field on a stretcher.

Wil Powell goes down hurt against the Crows. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The scene was eerily reminiscent of the round 14 clash between the two sides last season, when Powell was carted off with his right foot pointing at right angles after it was trapped under a Ned McHenry tackle.

He returned to the side in round 3 this year and had played in every game since, averaging 20 disposals in arguably the best season of his six-year AFL career.

Powell’s injury follows Lachie Weller’s season-ending ACL a fortnight earlier, which leaves the Suns without two of their best ball users across half-back for the final three games of the season.

Gold Coast’s faint finals hopes were snuffed out following the defeat to the Crows.

They face the Swans at the SCG on Saturday.