It was the worst sight possible on a day about hope and regeneration. Highly rated young prospect Aaron Francis landed badly and had to be carried from the ground at Essendon's intra-club practice match.
Francis was helped off the ground in pain after landing awkwardly in a marking contest - grabbing the back of his knee - but, mercifully, the club believes that the injury was better than first feared.
More AFL Real Footy Videos
AFLW Plays of Round One
The most stunning plays from round one of the AFLW.
Francis had injured his ankle, not his knee, and it is hoped it will not unduly disrupt his pre-season. After only three games for Essendon last year after being taken at pick six in the 2015 draft, Francis' injury looked likely to cruel this season as well.
"He has rolled his ankle but he has fairly loose ankles anyway, so we are confident it's not a serious sprain," said coach John Worsfold.
"It's a bit like 'Hurls' (Michael Hurley) last week. Hurls is out there running today, no worries. So we are confident Aaron will be back out there running pretty quickly.
"You immediately hope it's as minor injury as it can be but you have no control over it. I was pleased to get a good report from that."
Francis is a powerfully built player who, at 193 centimetres, is a developing key position player who had looked good during the early stages of the practice match taking several strong marks. He looked to had added significant size and muscle from last year.
"You feel for him (after injuries last year) - you feel for any player no matter who it is when they go down - but he has got a season to focus on and prepare for and this is just one thing he has to take into account."
![Aaron Francis is carried off the ground at True Value Solar Centre on Wednesday.](/web/20170210205421im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/8/1/2/g/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu815b.png/1486563630149.jpg)
More persuasively, full-forward Joe Daniher, who had left knee surgery after the season, not only took several big marks in his one-and-a-bit quarters of action but interestingly took a set shot for goal on his non-preferred right foot.
A player coming off an injury to their left leg taking a kick with their right leg might not be surprising but this was a set shot that went straight through for a goal - from a player whose goalkicking has been a cause of heartburn during his career.
"He did, did he?" Worsfold said teasingly when asked about the right-foot set shot from 40 metres out, which was admittedly helped by a strong northerly over his shoulder.
"He is on a pretty strict rehab program looking after that knee so I don't know how far out he was. He is only supposed to be kicking over a certain distance, so maybe it was that.
"He is obviously doing a lot a lot of work on it. But he is not supposed to have been kicking too much but Joey is tracking well, we are rapt. His progression to be out there today, he was pretty excited about it. He doesn't take long to slot in and look natural again."
Michael Hurley ran laps but did not take part in he match after suffering a minor ankle injury last match. Tom Bellchambers is also returning from injury.
Cale Hooker is being managed after his hamstring injury and is a chance to play in the second pre-season JLT competition match.
"We will monitor his preparation a bit differently than a normal hamstring. We will take extra caution," Worsfold said.