STAR Geelong midfielder Olivia Purcell will undergo scans in the coming days on a knee injury suffered in Friday night’s 47-point loss to Richmond at GMHBA Stadium.
The reigning best-and-fairest was assisted from the field by medical staff during the second quarter and didn’t reappear as the Cats remained winless.
“All the appropriate scans will take place, and we’ll hear more about that in the early days of next week,” coach Paul Hood said.
“We hope that everything works out really well for her. It didn’t fill us with much joy, for sure.
“Liv is a terrific young person who works really hard at her footy; so determined to continue to improve.
“And we hope that she gets the best news she can when she gets checked out during the week.”
Purcell’s injury capped a horror knight for Geelong, which became the Tigers’ first victim in their 11th AFLW start.
The Cats appear destined for their first wooden spoon after failing to match Richmond’s intensity in the first half, with the visitors blowing the margin out to 39 points at the major break.
“We were just a little bit too safe in the way we approached the game in that first half and not willing to take it on,” Hood said.
“I’m glad we got some reward in the second half when we did take the game on, and there’s a message there for the players that you need to get the ball forward quickly to score.
“I think that’s the way AFLW’s evolving, and we need to get on board that and try and put the opposition under pressure a little bit.
However, Hood isn’t concerned at suggestions a gulf was opening up between Geelong and the rest of the competition.
“No, I’m not concerned about that because we can’t control it,” he said.
“What we’re concerned about is our team – our squad – improving as much as they can and working as hard as they can, and all together working on improving our footy club.
“The rest of the competition will do what they do; we can’t influence that, so we just have to focus on ourselves.
Twitter: @tom_king79
