The Saints will be without Alice Burke for the remainder of the 2026 season after the defender suffered an ACL injury in Saturday’s loss to Sydney.
Burke was ruled out of the game during the third quarter, with scans later confirming the extent of the injury.
“It’s obviously a disappointing result for Alice, who is such an important member of our playing group,” General Manager AFLW Jessie Mulholland said.
“She’s already approached the setback with a really positive mindset and we know she’ll bring that same attitude to her rehab.
“We’ll wrap our arms around Alice throughout her recovery and know she’ll continue to play an important role within our group.”
Meanwhile, inaugural Saint Molly McDonald is a test to return to the team this weekend after spending almost 12 months on the sidelines.
The winger has reintegrated into full training in recent weeks after recovering from a fractured fibula sustained in Round 6 last season, before an additional setback in pre-season saw her sidelined with a broken toe.
“Molly has shown enormous resilience throughout her rehab and has worked incredibly hard to put herself in this position,” Mulholland said.
“She’s an important player for us, so we’re looking forward to having her back out there and seeing what she can add to the group.”
Additionally, midfielder J’Noemi Anderson continues to make positive strides in her recovery from the hamstring injury she sustained in the opening round of the season.
The 21-year-old is back running and has progressed into higher-speed work, as she builds towards reintegrating into team training in the coming weeks.
INJURY UPDATE
Molly McDonald | Leg | Test
J’Noemi Anderson | Hamstring | Medium-term
Amber Clarke | Ankle | Long-term
Alice Burke | Knee | Season
Timeframes
Test: Potentially available
Short-term: 1-3 weeks
Medium-term: 4-6 weeks
Long-term: 6+ weeks
