Elise Coventry out, Rocky Cranston in doubt for Geelong’s first AFLW game

Geelong’s plans for its first AFLW game have been thrown into chaos just nine days from the historic match amid disastrous fallout from a practice match last Saturday.

GEELONG’S plans for its inaugural AFLW game have been thrown into chaos following its win against Carlton in last Saturday’s practice match.

Scans have confirmed veteran defender Elise Coventry ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in the win against the Blues, while star midfielder Rocky Cranston has been offered a two-match suspension for an incident involving Sarah Hosking.

Cranston was cited for engaging in rough conduct against Hosking in the third quarter, and was charged with careless conduct and high impact to the head, resulting in an automatic two-match ban.

While the Cats have until 11am on Wednesday to decide if they will challenge, it is a devastating blow for the former Melbourne forward, who became the first AFLW player to be suspended in 2017.

Richelle Cranston is set to miss Geelong’s first AFLW game.

Just last week Cranston told the Geelong Advertiser that despite losing weight this summer in a bid to increase her fitness, she had changed her playing style to avoid heavy collisions with opponents.

“If anything I am more powerful now, so I do tend to ease up on contests in case I hurt someone,” Cranston said.

“I don’t want to be reported again. So I have changed my style a little bit.”

Geelong is aiming for a crowd of 20,000 people for its opening round clash against Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium, but crowd favourite Cranston’s potential absence would be a huge blow.

Coventry, who crossed to football after an extended local netball career, injured her left knee just before quarter-time at Ikon Park and took no further part in the game.

The 34-year-old played the past two seasons with the club’s VFLW team before being selected by the Cats at pick 55 in the 2018 AFLW draft.

Defender Elise Coventry has suffered a serious knee injury. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Geelong AFLW coach Paul Hood said Coventry would be supported by the club as she prepares to undergo rehab.

“We are all disappointed for Elise, a talented footballer and even better person,” Hood said.

“It’s a credit to Elise, the way in which she has handled the past few days. Our entire AFLW group, and the club as a whole will throw our support behind her as she begins her rehab and recovery program.”

Coventry was less than two weeks away from emulating her great-grandfather Jim Flynn, who played in Geelong’s first season in the VFL in 1897.

She is the latest AFLW player to suffer a serious pre-season injury. Bulldogs goalkicker Brooke Lochland has been ruled out for the season with a broken leg and Adelaide ruck Rhiannon Metcalfe tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in an innocuous incident during the Crows’ trial game against Fremantle on Saturday night.

Originally published as Elise Coventry out, Rocky Cranston in doubt for Geelong’s first AFLW game