The Gold Coast SUNS will have 27 players available for the Round 1 AFLW clash against GWS in Blacktown.
Of the three unavailable, defender Emma Pittman has been ruled out for the 2020 season to further rehabilitate her ACL injury.
AFLW Head Physiotherapist Aaron Duffy told the Griffith University AFLW Injury Update Pittman would be sent for surgery in the coming weeks.
“Emma saw a specialist last week and it’s been decided she’ll undergo some further surgery, Duffy said.
“Unfortunately she’ll be out for the season.”
Kitara Whap-Farrar is also unavailable for Round 1 with a knee injury but Duffy said the defender was tracking well in her rehab.
“She started outside on the grass last week so we’ll continue to build her load over the next couple of weeks,” Duffy said.
“(We’ll) look to get her back into the training setup in the next two to three weeks.”
Another first-year player, Ellie Hampson, suffered a setback at training prior to the practice match against St Kilda but is expected to be back mid-season.
“Ellie suffered a lateral ankle sprain in some match sim drills at training last week which ruled her out for the practice match,” Duffy said.
“She’s started her rehab and is doing really well at this stage so we’ll aim to have her back available for games in three to four weeks.”
