The Crows will monitor marquee forward Kellie Gibson this week after the goalkicker sustained an ankle injury early in the Club’s thrilling three-point win over Carlton.

Gibson rolled her right ankle while chasing a Blues opponent across half-forward in the opening minute of the clash at Thebarton Oval on Sunday. The 20-year-old had to be helped from the field by trainers and took no further part in the contest.

Crows women’s coach Bec Goddard was unsure of the full extent of the injury, but hoped the West Australian would be available for Sunday’s clash with the Dockers at Fremantle Oval.

“Kel’s a trooper. She wants to play in her home town next week,” Goddard said.

“I know that she’ll do her rehab right this week and hopefully get it back up.”

Match report: Crows v Blues

Injuries in the AFL Women’s competition can prove significant with only 27 players on club lists and an abbreviated seven-game premiership season.

Midfielder Sophie Armistead has already been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in the Crows’ win over the Western Bulldogs in Round Two.

Goddard said her side was forced to adjust after losing Gibson so early in the contest against the Blues on Sunday.

“Part of our game plan is to go with speed, and Carlton to their credit set up very well behind the ball and slowed us right down,” she said.

“We obviously had that quick change at the start of the game with Gibson and the ankle, so we had to quickly make some changes and that sort of threw us off a little bit, but no excuses. Carlton were just better.

“They got their numbers behind a lot quicker than us and we didn’t adapt as quickly as we would’ve liked.”


The Crows had to battle their way back against the Blues and only snatched the lead for the first time late in the game following an incredible 60-metre goal from Erin Phillips in the final quarter.

“That’ll go down in the highlight reel, won’t it?” Goddard said.

“It was a terrific team goal, as the forwards let it through. It’s something that everybody will enjoy watching later.”

The victory consolidated the Club’s position in top spot on the AFL Women’s ladder, even on points with fellow undefeated side Brisbane. The Crows have a vastly superior percentage however, boasting the most points for and least against in the competition.

There will be no finals series in the inaugural AFL Women’s season, with the top two teams on the ladder after seven rounds advancing to the AFLW Grand Final.

Coach Goddard said it was too early to be looking that far into the future.

“We’ve never had a long view with the playing group about where we want to finish,” she said.

“There’s only seven games. You’ve got to win the games when you can and how much you win or lose by can really affect where you might finish.

“We’ve just gone in week-by-week to play our best, play the game plan and get better.”