The Essendon Football Club can confirm that Amelia Radford has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to her right knee.  

The incident occurred on Saturday during a training drill, with scans confirming the extent of the injury on Monday afternoon.

The playing group and Club are deeply disappointed for Radford who has been working hard on her craft this pre-season.

"The news of Amelia's ACL injury is extremely sad. She is a well-respected and loved player in our program and we're all feeling for her right now." AFLW General Manager, Aysha Ward said.

“Amelia has incredible resilience and determination. We know she will give everything to her rehab program, and we will continue to support her every step of the way. 

"Although Amelia's plans have changed for this year, she is eager to support the team in a different way, and we look forward to seeing her leadership & cultural impact continue."

Essendon will provide updates on Radford’s rehab and recovery in the coming weeks.