For the second straight year we are writing about the knee injuries to our best and brightest.  Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries have always been a part of women’s football and, after speaking to former Matildas, there is always a period when we have more than our fair share.  However that does not comfort those who will lose a full year of their football lives.  

The last 18 months has seen an up surge in the number of ACL injuries with the women’s football community.  2012 saw Lydia Williams, Kim Carroll, Leena Khamis, Danielle Brogan, Louisa Bisby and Ashley Brown (to mention a few) added to the “Knee Club.”  Yeah, way too many names.

The good news is the players are returning from the injuries and intergrating back into the system.  Kate Gill, Sam Kerr and Elise Kellond-Knight have been the recent graduates from rehabilitation and have been key components of their sides in the W-League.  Gill and Kerr have also returned to international football earlier this year so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

We are well aware that correlation does not equal causation, however, for the women’s football program to have so many ACL injuries in short space of time indicates that something is not quite right.  We don’t pretend to have the answers but the questions should be raised.

To Lydia, Kim, Leena, Danielle, Louisa, Ashley, Jackie and any others we may have inadvertently forgotten, we continue to wish you all the best in your recovery and look to see you back and playing in 2013.