The Gold Coast SUNS can confirm AFLW forward Sarah Perkins will miss the remainder of the 2021 NAB AFLW season with an MCL injury to her knee.
Perkins left the field after a collision in the second quarter of the Round 5 match against West Coast and wasn’t able to play out the remainder of the game.
Speaking to media this afternoon, SUNS AFLW Senior Coach David Lake said it was a blow to be without Perkins but there was still more she could offer the club this season.
“(It’s her) MCL, it’s season-ending and disappointing,” Lake said.
“But I’d like to think that when we brought Perko on board we brought on Perko the package and she’s brought so much else to the group.
“She’ll be in a splint for a bit but I think she’ll contribute in so many other ways and I’ll look to cash in on that.”
The SUNS returned on Monday from a week-long stint in Perth which included matches against Fremantle and West Coast.
This week the team will be on the road again to take on Adelaide, this time without Perkins, but Lake was confident the players could turn things around against the Crows.
“I think you can always win without Sarah, you can win with Sarah too,” he said.
“Freo beat Adelaide and we were with Freo at halftime and that was through an increased effort and an application to task.
“If we can convince ourselves that we can bring that then we put ourselves back in the frame regardless of who we take to the ground I think.
“That’s the position we have to take because there’s 29 other girls ready to go.”
