COLLINGWOOD draftee Darcy Guttridge could miss the entire AFLW season after breaking her collarbone against Melbourne in a practice match on Friday night at Olympic Park Oval.
The under-18 All Australian captain was starting to settle into the pace of AFLW in the dying minutes of final quarter before being crunched in a tackle.
Guttridge had just evaded one Melbourne defender before attempting to dodge a second when she was brought to the ground.
While the umpire immediately paid a free kick for a high tackle, it was quickly obvious to the couple of thousand spectators that something was seriously wrong.
Guttridge was taken from the ground in considerable distress by trainers, who administered the strong pain-relieving green whistle, before she was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
While a course of treatment is yet to be decided, there remains a small chance Guttridge may be fit to play by the end of the AFLW season in March.
Meg Hutchins took the resulting free kick and calmly slotted her second goal – the Magpies' fifth in succession – to take a three-point, match-winning lead.
With both teams resting star players in the second half, Melbourne draftee and former WNBL basketballer Tegan Cunningham kicked three goals, while Collingwood youngster Sarah Dargan shone across half-forward.
