Fremantle marquee player Kiara Bowers is in doubt for next year’s AFL women’s league inaugural season after rupturing her ACL in the first quarter of Coastal Titans’ Western Australian Women’s Football League semi-final loss to Swan Districts on Sunday.

Bowers will see a surgeon on Wednesday to have the injury assessed.

Fremantle national women’s league, academies and community manager Wade Spilcker said that if the 24-year-old was deemed to be unavailable, the club would select another player from the WA draft pool.

The club does not have the option of recruiting another marquee player.

“Worst case scenario, if Kiara is unavailable for the season ahead, she will remain as our marquee player,” Spilcker said.

“We will have the option of introducing another player into the second category of players (selected from the WA leg of the AFL Women’s Talent Search last weekend).

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“We will be able to replace her on our list, albeit we’d love to have her out there.

“At the moment the main concern is around Kiara and her wellbeing rather than the impact on the club.”

Spilcker said that regardless of the outcome, Bowers would have a role to play in 2017.



“We’ll no doubt work with her over the coming days and weeks as to – if she is unavailable – how we retain her and keep her involved in the program,” Spilcker said.



“She’s obviously got a lot to offer, not only on the playing field but as a quality individual.

“Whatever happens, she’ll be integral to the team moving forward.”

Bowers has represented WA on five occasions, the Melbourne Demons three times and claimed four WAWFL league Best and Fairest awards.



Her Titans’ teammate - GWS marquee signing Renee Forth - also sustained a knee injury in the same match.