EFNL 2024: Berwick’s Will Arthurson set to miss season following ACL injury

A cruel blow to Eastern Premier Division club Berwick, with one of its most important players set to miss the 2024 season. Latest here.

Berwick’s Will Arthurson in action for Frankston in the VFL. Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Berwick has been dealt a hammer blow a month out from the season, with its co-captain set for a long stint on the sidelines.

Key defender Will Arthurson is set to miss the 2024 campaign following an ACL injury suffered on a recent training camp.

Berwick senior coach Clint Evans said it seemed an innocuous incident.

Arthurson won the club’s best and fairest in 2023 and was named in the Eastern league’s Premier Division Team of the Year, following a VFL stint with Frankston.

“We were doing match-sim … he went one way and his knee just didn’t go with him,” Evans said.

“There was no tackling or anything and this was after about two hours of training, and the ground was in perfect condition.

“You can’t replace him – captain, best and fairest winner, team of the year … it’s very hard to replace this time of year.”

Arthurson’s injury follows an off-season of change at the Wickers, with a string of players exiting for rival clubs.

Evans said the loss of experience could provide opportunities for the club’s emerging prospects, with the coach earmarking Caleb Van Oostveen as a possibility to fill Arthurson’s post.

Caleb Van Oostveen (left). Picture: Valeriu Campan

“He was going to go play on-ball but he’s probably going to go down back – he’s not as big as Will, but he’s got really good skills,” Evans said.

“At the moment, we’ve got that many young kids that we’re not settled yet with what we’ve got.

“We’ve got our first practice match this week, so we’ll get to know a little bit more over the next few weeks.”

Arthurson was set to co-captain the club alongside Tom Brennan this season, but Evans said a decision was yet to be made on whether a replacement would be named.

Despite the on-field loss, the coach was optimistic Arthurson could provide a lift in the coaches’ box this season.

“Will’s been fantastic with the way he’s gone about it,” Evans said.

“He’ll jump on the coaching staff to help out, especially with all the young kids we’ve got, he’ll be tremendous.”

Berwick opens its season away to Rowville on April 13.