Last weekend we saw Collingwood star Ash Brazill and young Saints up-and-comer Tarni White succumb to the dreaded knee injury. Twelve players in the AFLW competition are now facing 12 months on the sidelines, a loss of income, physical and mental struggles, numerous hospital visits and a range of other issues as they recover from ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments.

As a player, it's heartbreaking seeing other players go down. As a teammate, it can be very emotional. I've had a couple of teammates rupture their ACLs and your stomach sinks as they are stretchered off the ground. The initial realisation hits that player hard, knowing they'll be missing out on football for the next 12 months. But it's more than just missing out on football that can be the challenge.

St Kilda’s Tarni White left Moorabbin in tears with a torn ACL last weekend. Credit:Getty Images

Injuries are a cruel part of sport. Some players have terrible luck and go through most of their sporting careers with chronic injuries or have careers shortened by them, while others are the 'lucky' ones and come out of their careers unscathed. Being semi-professional athletes, AFLW players work or study full time as well as play football. When we are injured on the field, we are forced to take leave our jobs or miss crucial study time.

The injury itself is stressful but for many players it can be compounded by financial stress and the long and lonely rehab process that occurs in the AFLW offseason, when players and clubs are not around.