Report: Season over for crow star after ACL tear
Abbie Ballard, an Adelaide midfielder, will miss the rest of the 2023 season after tearing her left ACL on Friday night.
IT’S SEASON over for Abbie Ballard, after the Adelaide midfielder ruptured her left anterior cruciate ligament during the Crows’ win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
Ballard was carted off the field in obvious pain following a second-quarter collision and sat out the rest of the game.
After the win, the 21-year-old returned on crutches with ice on her left knee and performed the team song with her teammates.
Scans on Saturday revealed the condition, which would necessitate a knee reconstruction and end her season in 2023.
“It’s obviously shattering news for Abbie and the team,” the Crows’ women’s footy boss Phil Harper said.
“She has worked extremely hard in the off-season to improve her fitness and play more minutes in the midfield this year so to have her season cut short is disappointing.