Swans superstar Molloy out for the season; Tigers launch a review into their AFLW program

Sydney superstar Chloe Molloy will miss the remainder of the AFLW season after suffering a back injury, in a devastating blow to the team’s finals hopes.

The Swans’ co-captain made a spectacular return to AFLW this season after being sidelined with an ACL injury in 2024 that required a knee reconstruction and long recovery.

The Swans said in a statement that Molloy had experienced back soreness for the past fortnight.

“Following further investigation and specialist opinion, the club’s medical staff have made the recommendation for Molloy to undergo surgery later this week,” Sydney said.

Coach Scott Gowans said the club did not know how serious the injury was and would wait for more information following the operation.

“It’s very disappointing – she’s clearly one of our better players,” he said at a media conference on Tuesday.

“The good thing is the squad is healthy, and we won well on the weekend without her.

“I think it showed a significant growth in the group [that] we were able to cope without her. Maybe in the past we haven’t coped as well just being a younger group.”

In another injury blow for the Swans, Cynthia Hamilton suffered both knee and ankle injuries during last week’s clash with West Coast and is now waiting to have scans.

Although the Swans have endured bad luck with injuries this year, Gowans said there were players who would step up and fill the gaps.

Molloy opened the season with a bang, piloting her side to four consecutive victories, including a thumping win over Gold Coast in round two, when she kicked seven majors – equalling the record for the most goals kicked in an AFLW game.

In an era of North Melbourne dominance, the Swans were emerging as worthy opponents and potential spoilers for the undefeated reigning premiers.

But, the red-hot Sydney hit an unexpected snag in September with a string of losses and have been trying to work their way up the ladder to reach finals.

Presently in ninth place, the Swans need to defeat the Bombers on Saturday to slide into the eight, then await the result of Sunday’s game between Adelaide and Fremantle to see if they can maintain their position.

As one of the team’s best goalkickers and pivotal members of the leadership team, Molloy’s absence on Saturday puts a serious dent in the Swans’ chances of both making the finals and making an impact if they get there.

Molloy’s Swans teammate, and the side’s inaugural co-captain, Maddy Collier announced her retirement this week after 10 AFLW seasons across three different clubs.

The now 30-year-old played 47 games across her career but suffered a range of injuries, including a season-ending ankle injury in 2024.

“When I look back, I’ve probably spent more time here in rehab than I have playing, but it has taught me so much about being a good club person and given me an appreciation for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes,” Collier said.

“I’d like to thank Scott Gowans and [AFLW footy boss] Kate Mahony for bringing me here and the faith they put in me, as well as my mum for her unwavering support – I wouldn’t be here without her.”

Tigers announce independent review into AFLW program after poor season

Richmond have appointed former Carlton general manager Brad Lloyd to lead an independent review into their AFLW program after a disappointing 2025 campaign.

The Tigers qualified for finals last year, but were winless for the first half of the 2025 season, with seven consecutive losses.

The team finally broke their winless drought in round eight with a shock victory over Adelaide.

Despite the string of losses, the club extended coach Ryan Ferguson’s contract until the end of the 2026 season.

A statement from the club said Lloyd and high-performance specialists will conduct in-person and virtual interviews with stakeholders, as well as player and staff surveys.

“We ultimately want to be a team competing for premierships, and this process will ensure that we are best set up for continual improvement and long-term success,” Richmond chief executive officer Shane Dunne said.

“As the AFLW continues to evolve, our program must remain progressive, inclusive and high performing.

“This review will help identify strengths, areas for improvement, and make recommendations to optimise high-performance outcomes in the short, medium and long terms.”

Richmond are 17th on the ladder and will face Gold Coast at Ikon Park on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have also made a key announcement for their AFL program, with head of coaching performance and development, Ben Rutten, moving on to Port Adelaide to become the Power’s new head of football.

Rutten, who was the Essendon senior coach for 44 games through 2021 and 2022, has replaced Chris Davies, who has taken on the role as Carlton footy boss. Rutten was previously a line coach at Richmond from 2015 to 2018, during which time the Tigers winning the drought-breaking 2017 flag. He returned to the Tigers after his stint at the Bombers, again serving as an assistant coach before taking on his most recent role.

Originally from Adelaide, Rutten played 229 games as a key defender for the Crows from 2003 to 2014.

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