AFL injury news: All the latest injury news from across the competition

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick couldn’t say the words, but there are fears for crucial Suns defender Charlie Ballard after his knee buckled against West Coast.

Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick couldn’t bring himself to say the words, but he’s clearly fearful he’ll be without defender Charlie Ballard for the rest of the 2025 season.

Ballard limped from Optus Stadium at the end of the second quarter of the Suns record 87-point win over West Coast.

He landed awkwardly, jarring his knee, after taking an uncontested mark.

He was subbed out of the game before the start of the third term.

The Suns fear he has ruptured his ACL.

“We’re hoping for the best,” Hardwick said.

“He’ll go for a scan, obviously, first thing tomorrow I would say. But look, I don’t know, the prognosis is he … it might be a possibility …

“I don’t want to say actually. I’d just rather wait and we’ll get the scan results, because we need him.

The Suns fear Charlie Ballard has torn his ACL. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“He’s such an important player for us, important both on the field and off the field, great locker room guy, glue guy as well.

“So, we’ve got our fingers crossed that everything’s okay.”

Ballard has played the past two seasons without missing a game, and finished sixth in the AFL for intercept marks in 2024. He had kept Eagles captain Oscar Allen to one goal in the opening half.

He’s clearly a player the Suns need.

As is Matt Rowell, who is out of contract at the end of this season, with plenty of clubs circling.

Rowell was a part of a dominant midfield against West Coast on Sunday. Him, Noah Anderson, Touk Miller and Jarrod Witts were unstoppable in setting up the Gold Coast’s biggest ever win.

"I don't think it's good news for Charlie Ballard"

📺Watch #AFLEaglesSuns on ch.504 or on @kayosportshttps://t.co/4aQ9KanzYo⁰✍️ BLOG https://t.co/PFpGUtQX6o ⁰🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/ldIdx6uZ2lpic.twitter.com/ZPRg0HfHos

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) March 16, 2025

They had 43 more contested possessions and doubled the Eagles centre square clearances, which resulted in the Suns having 33 more inside forward 50 entries.

Rowell has stated he’s likely to re-sign with the Suns, but has not put a time frame on signing an extension beyond 2025.

He had 10 clearances and 30 possessions, in a powerful performance, that his coach clearly knows will impact the youngsters next contract.

“We obviously know the type of player Matt Rowell is. His market value has probably gone up again, which is a bit flattening,” Hardwick half-joked after the game.

“But then I really look at Noah and Touk. Touk’s first game back. He didn’t play any pre-season games, but looked very fit, very strong.

“I thought Witts was probably best on ground, to be honest. I thought he was a superstar today, one of the best games I think I’ve seen a ruck play.

“So, he was really, really strong, gave us first use, hunted the ball in and around the contest. And, you know, it was a great result for us.

After having their opening round clash against Essendon cancelled due to a threatening cyclone, the Suns next game is against Melbourne, at the MCG, in round 3.

Originally published as AFL injury news: All the latest injury news from across the competition