ADELAIDE winger Deni Varnhagen will miss the start of the AFLW season with a knee injury as the injury list for the reigning premiers grows longer.
Varnhagen will be sidelined for three to six weeks with significant cartilage damage to her left knee sustained in an incident in the first quarter of Saturday's trial match against Fremantle in Mandurah.
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The dual premiership player will have arthroscope surgery on Wednesday and will be sidelined for the Crows' season opener against Brisbane on February 8.
The positive is that Varnhagen's knee ligaments are intact, with the Crows already having several players recovering from torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
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Co-captain Erin Phillips, ruck Rhiannon Metcalfe and forward Chloe Scheer are continuing to increase their training loads rupturing their ACL's last year.
Midfielder Hannah Martin – who was placed on the inactive list for this season – and inspirational leader Chelsea Randall – are out for the season after undergoing knee reconstructions.
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The Crows are already without forward Ruth Wallace, who will miss the season due to personal reasons, meaning they currently have 24 players available.
Midfielder Sophie Li could be added to that list after suffering a concussion in the 17-point win against the Dockers.
