Leitrim native Aine Tighe has been ruled out of the Australian Football League Women's season having sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The Kiltubrid native - who is one of a growing number of Irish players down under - signed for Fremantle in 2019, but this injury is set to see her miss out on her maiden season in the AFLW.
Tighe had completed much of the pre-season with Fremantle but picked up the injury in their final pre-season game last weekend against Adelaide Crows.
There were hopes initially that the injury would be something less serious, but scans have since revealed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee.
Sad news for our Irish recruit after scans confirmed an ACL injury to her left knee, which will see her miss the upcoming #AFLW season.
Wishing you all the best in recovery Aine 💜 #foreverfreo— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) January 31, 2020
"Disappointed to get it confirmed but it's just one of those things in sport, I guess,' Tighe told the official Fremantle website.
" The club and everyone has been great in terms of giving me the support and helping sort out the logistics of everything so hopefully we'll get on the road to recovery ASAP."
"I had scans, which confirmed the ACL rupture so I'm booked in for surgery first thing next week and hopefully fingers crossed everything goes well and we'll be able to start getting back on the bike and doing a few bits."
Tighe did confirm she intends to remain at the club for the remainder of the season, with a view to playing in the AFLW in 2021.
Fremantle boss Darryn Fry said: "We will support Aine through her rehabilitation process and hope to see her playing AFLW football for Fremantle in 2021."
Tighe joined Fremantle alongside Louth forward Kate Flood last year.
Fremantle are set to get their season underway against Geelong Cats on the 9th of February.
Meanwhile, Tighe's native county opened their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division Four campaign with a comprehensive 5-17 to 0-3 defeat of Derry last weekend.
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