AFLW No. 1 pick Montana Ham limps off in heartbreaking scenes

There were heartbreaking scenes in the Swans’ first ever AFLW match as No. 1 draft pick Montana Ham limped off with a serious injury.

SydneyÕs Montana Ham injured her knee during the Round 1 AFLW match and first ever game for the Sydney Swans v St. Kilda at North Sydney Oval on 27th August, 2022. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only - **NO ON SALES** - ©Phil Hillyard )

The Sydney Swans’ first ever AFLW game has been soured by a suspected serious knee injury to No. 1 draft pick Montana Ham.

The Swans took on St Kilda in front of a packed crowd of 8264 fans including the Swans’ men’s team at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.

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The Swans started well but faded after the first quarter as the Saints claimed a comfortable 8.8 (56) to 4.3 (27) victory.

Sydney had 11 debutants including Ham, and all eyes were on the No. 1 draft pick, who starred with 11 disposals, two marks and eight tackles in her first AFL game.

One particular passage of play where she spun out of a tackle and burst clear had fans in awe.

But her debut was cut short with just five minutes left in the fourth quarter when she awkwardly crumbled under a smother attempt.

Montana Ham has come from the ground following this contest 😢

We've got everything crossed for the young Swan 🤞#AFLW | #AFLWSwansSaintspic.twitter.com/tLFCvZwEPJ

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) August 27, 2022

Oh no that’s not good. Hopefully Montana Ham is okay 🤦‍♂️ #AFLWFantasy

— Bailey Irrgang (@baileyirrgang) August 27, 2022

There were heartbreaking scenes as she limped off the ground with the help of the trainers and appeared unable to put weight on her leg.

The Swans will await scans to determine if Ham has suffered an ACL injury, which would be a major blow to their inaugural AFLW campaign.

Montana Ham injured her right knee. Photo: Phil Hillyard )

She suffered the injury in an awkward smother. Photo: Phil Hillyard )

The No. 1 pick was helped from the field. Photo: Phil Hillyard )

“I hope Montana Ham is OK,” St Kilda coach Nick Dal Santo told Fox Footy.

“There was obviously what looked to be a knee concern late in the game. We have our fingers crossed and wish her all the very best from the Saints to her.”

Sydney coach Scott Gowans said the Swans weren’t yet certain of the extent of Ham’s injury.

“We know it’s a knee,” he said after the game.

“She’s in good spirits at the moment. We’ll get a scan and have a look at it. It’s a hard one to tell with the way that it happened and the way the St Kilda player fell across. The physio couldn’t even give me an indication.”

FORMER RUCKS FACE OFF

From the first siren, it was clear spectators were going to witness an intense ruck battle, with former GWS Giants teammates Erin McKinnon (Saint Kilda) and Ally Morphett to take the taps for their sides.

McKinnon, at just under 190cm, demonstrated her skill and experience after having five previous AFLW seasons under her belt.

While youngster Morphett put up a good fight, McKinnon out-muscled and outclassed the 18-year-old.

St Kilda’s first goal of the night for Stevens can largely be attributed to a 30m kick from McKinnon.

St Kilda coach Nick Dal Santo will have been very pleased with the club’s decision to acquire the 23-year-old in a trade for the season.

The Saints were too good for the Swans. (Photo by Mark Evans/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

ST KILDA’S STAR RETURNS

St Kilda star Georgia Patrikos made her highly anticipated return to the AFLW after having the sixth season off as a result of the league’s vaccination policy.

The midfielder proved unstoppable across the ground, slotting right back into the competition with ease.

The 21-year-old led her side on disposals on Saturday night, with 17, showing class and composure.

Another Saint, who fit seamlessly back into her No. 24 jumper was Clara Fitzpatrick.

An original member of the Saint Kilda 2020 expansion side, Fitzpatrick had to leave Australia in 2020 to head back home to Ireland during the peak of the Covid pandemic, not being able to return to Victoria for 18 months.

Finally, after two seasons off due to a third ACL tear and VISA complications, the 31-year-old returned in full swing locking in a total 11 contests.

11 SWANS DEBUTANTS

The Sydney Swans welcomed an astounding 11 debutants into the side for the season launch, with all 11 slotting seamlessly into the competition.

The rookies were presented their red and white guernseys on Friday night, in an emotional pre-match ceremony.

The group included Ham, Aimee Whelan, Molly Eastman, Cynthia Hamilton, Ella Heads, Sarah Skinner, Eliza Vale, Lawson Tavan, who joined the Swans as a replacement player for Alice Mitchell who unfortunately has sustained a torn ACL and co-captain Lauren Szigeti.

All eyes were on the season’s No. 1 draft pick, Ham, who sure met spectator expectations on the night, not letting the pressure rock her confidence before her unfortunate setback.

The 180cm midfielder proved exactly why she was one of the fan favourites heading into the match, with her 11 and powerful tackles.

— With Tamaryn McGregor, Mark McGowan, Lauren Wood, NCA NewsWire