Mayo Gaelic footballer and AFLW star Rachel Kearns could be set to miss the rest of the season Down Under after sustaining a shoulder injury in the Geelong Cats' season opener.
The Crossmolina native was forced off the field of play in the first quarter following a heavy challenge from Richmond's Beth Lynch.
Kearns, who signed for Geelong last year, will now face a lengthy spell on the sidelines which could yet amount to her missing the remainder of the AFLW season.
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Head AFLW physio Erin Nelson described the nature of the surgery Kearns faced following the injury.
She said: "Rachel underwent surgical repair of her AC joint this morning.
"This will most likely be a season-ending injury."
The injury is a huge blow for all-rounder Kearns, who has continued to play for Mayo since her move to Australia.
The 24-year-old MacHale Rovers clubwoman was an LGFA All-Star full forward in 2019, a member of the Republic of Ireland under-19 soccer squad and has been awarded two All-Ireland medals in boxing.
Elsewhere, Ailish Considine of the Adelaide Crows is out for the next two games having sustained a hamstring strain.
"Ailish was doing some extra running after training and on her second effort, she pulled up sore," Crows head of women's football Phil Harper explained.
"She’s been and had scans with the doctor and it’s shown a low-grade hamstring strain, so unfortunately, she'll be out for at least a couple of weeks."
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