Horrific ankle injury to rule out Gold Coast Suns defender Wil Powell for rest of AFL season

Gold Coast Suns defender Wil Powell had surgery on Monday to repair his badly injured ankle.

Suns defender Wil Powell kicks the ball forward before suffering an ankle injury. Picture: Albert Perez / Getty Images

Gold Coast defender Wil Powell will miss the rest of the AFL season after suffering a horrific ankle injury in the Suns’ 43-point weekend win over the Adelaide Crows.

Play was delayed for several minutes in the third quarter at Metricon Stadium on Sunday after Powell’s right foot was left at an awkward angle after he was tackled by the Crows’ Ned McHenry.

Powell, 22, was eventually taken from the field in a medi-cab and later transported to hospital, where he spent the night.

He had surgery on Monday to repair a fractured and dislocated ankle. The injured ankle also suffered ligament damage.

Wil Powell required assistance after injuring his ankle. Picture: Albert Perez / Getty Images

“It was a pretty severe injury,” Suns general manager of football performance Wayne Campbell said.

“He’s tough and he’s much-loved and we’re looking after him as best we can.

“We’ll put him through a rehab process and are really confident in our medical and high performance department to get him back, but he’ll sit out the rest of the year and we’ll get him up and going for pre-season next year.”

Powell wasn’t the only Gold Coast player hurt in the win, with Connor Budarick suffering a hamstring injury.

Budarick was due to have scans on the injury on Monday.

The in-form Suns will aim for a fourth successive win when they meet Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Originally published as Horrific ankle injury to rule out Gold Coast Suns defender Wil Powell for rest of AFL season