Nicole Hildebrand to get until last minute to prove her fitness for AFLW Grand Final

BRISBANE defender Nicole Hildebrand may have escaped the ultimate Grand Final heartache with the Lions saying she remained in contention.

Nicole Hildebrand is racing the clock to be fit for the AFLW Grand Final. Picture: Mark Calleja

BRISBANE defender Nicole Hildebrand may have escaped the ultimate grand final heartache with the Lions saying she remained in contention to take on the Crows on Saturday.

Hildebrand is one of the Lions’ most experienced players and a key cog in coach Craig Starcevich’s defence and he has declared she will be given until the final moments if needed to prove her fitness.

Starcevich will name her in the extended squad that must be lodged with the AFL on Thursday night.

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The medium-sized defender limped from the field in the final quarter of Sunday’s draw with Carlton with a knee injury.

She was in obvious pain on the sidelines and also showed the signs of considerable distress as she contemplated missing out on the premiership decider.

However scans have revealed she has escaped major structural damage and she has recovered well in recent days.

“She is going OK, it was a hyper-extended knee and she has some bone bruising but everything is intact, there is no ligament damage,’’ Starcevich said.

“There is still a little bit of doubt but it is looking more positive than negative.’’

Originally published as Nicole Hildebrand to get until last minute to prove her fitness for AFLW Grand Final