West Coast Eagles star Ella Roberts has warned she will not rush back from her torn ACL, admitting she may miss the whole of next season despite hoping to make an appearance at some point.
The 22-year-old was speaking after becoming the first West Coast AFLW player to win three consecutive club champion awards. The honour came only days after she underwent surgery on the knee injury suffered in the Eagles’ final home-and-away match.
Roberts attended Friday’s awards ceremony on crutches and said she currently had no fixed timetable for her return.
“Hopefully I can make an appearance next year at some point — but at the same time, if that doesn’t happen, I know I’m going to come back an even better player for the year after,” Roberts said.
She is due to see a surgeon for a follow-up appointment in two weeks, with her immediate focus on restoring movement and being able to walk normally.
“It sounds cliche, but we’ll take it one week at a time, and I’m definitely not going to rush back. If I’m not ready, I’m not ready,” she said.
“The worst thing I can do is come back too early, I know that’s a scary thing that could happen. I won’t be doing that.”
The average recovery from a ruptured ACL is nine to 12 months. With the AFLW season having begun in mid-August this year and potentially starting earlier in future, Roberts acknowledged she was unlikely to be available for the opening round of the 2027 campaign.
She said the support of her family, friends, coaches, teammates and fans had helped her through the first days after the injury. Even if she is unable to play next season, Roberts intends to remain closely involved with the team.
“I do believe that some of my best qualities as a player do come off the field. The opportunity to help the young mids out, like Lou Painter, Courtney Rowley, even Charlotte Riggs — these girls are still coming into the start of their careers,” she said.
“I can be a second coach out there and just watch them in particular. I hope I’m not on the sidelines for too long, but no matter what, I’ll be their biggest fans.”
Ella Roberts targeting a more complete return
Roberts’ latest award followed a season in which she was named in the extended All Australian squad and averaged 21.7 disposals, 12.1 contested possessions, 5.8 tackles and 5.0 clearances.
Her three straight club champion awards place her alongside a select group of AFLW players to have achieved the feat, including North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner, Adelaide’s Ebony Marinoff and Melbourne’s Kate Hore.
Roberts said she did not yet regard herself as being in the same class as those established stars, but believed the best football of her career was still ahead of her.
“I still think my best footy is yet to come so that excites me a lot. With a setback like my knee, that also, in a way, does excite me because I do think I can come back so much stronger and fitter and better,” she said.
The midfielder faced hard taggers for the first time this season and said the experience had highlighted areas of her game that needed improvement, particularly her running and consistency.
“I’ve learned that I’m not a complete player yet, and there’s so many things I still need and want to get after,” Roberts said.
“And then being more of a consistent player — I feel like I have good games and I have average games. If I can minimise the gap between my best and worst, I’ll be in good stead.”
