West Coast Eagles star Ella Roberts has declared she will not return from her torn ACL until she feels fully ready — and that might not be next season.
But when she does come back, the now-triple AFLW club champion is already relishing the chance to unlock new areas of her game as she targets becoming a more-complete player.
Roberts became the first Eagles AFLW player to win three-straight club champion awards on Friday, capping off another wonderful season which also saw her named in the extended All Australian squad.
The individual honour came against the backdrop of a heartbreaking week for Roberts, after it was confirmed she had torn her ACL in West Coast’s final game of the home-and-away season. She attended the ceremony on crutches, just days after going under the surgeon’s knife.
Given the average timeline of return from a ruptured ACL of nine to 12 months and reports the AFLW season could be set for an earlier start date after beginning in mid-August this year, Roberts may be long odds to be back in the blue and gold jersey in time for the start of the 2027 season — if at all.
And the 22 year-old told The West Australian she would not rush her return and currently had no timeline on her comeback.
“Hopefully I can make an appearance next year at some point — but at the same time, if that doesn’t happen, I know I’m going to come back an even better player for the year after,” Roberts said.
“I’ll see a surgeon in two weeks for a follow-up appointment, and at the moment there’s just a few little things I need to focus on, like straightening my knee and getting back to walking.
“It sounds cliche, but we’ll take it one week at a time, and I’m definitely not going to rush back. If I’m not ready, I’m not ready.
“The worst thing I can do is come back too early, I know that’s a scary thing that could happen. I won’t be doing that.
“It’s obviously not ideal, but I have swallowed the thought, and I know that I probably won’t be there for round one.”
Roberts said she had felt the love in the days after her injury and paid tribute to the immediate support she had received from family, friends, coaches, teammates and fans.
Even if she does not take to the field next season, Roberts said she will be doing everything she can to help her teammates from the sidelines.
“I do believe that some of my best qualities as a player do come off the field. The opportunity to help the young mids out, like Lou Painter, Courtney Rowley, even Charlotte Riggs — these girls are still coming into the start of their careers,” she said.
“I can be a second coach out there and just watch them in particular. I hope I’m not on the sidelines for too long, but no matter what, I’ll be their biggest fans.”
Beyond West Coast, very few AFLW players can say they have won three-consecutive club champion awards. Among those who have are North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner, Adelaide gun Ebony Marinoff and Melbourne forward Kate Hore.
Roberts said she still did not put herself in the same stratosphere of those greats of the game and still had to pinch herself she had achieved so much so early in her career.
“I definitely don’t put myself up against them just yet. They’re obviously quality players of our competition, and to be in the same bracket as them is something I’m so proud of and can hopefully build on,” she said.
“I still think my best footy is yet to come so that excites me a lot. With a setback like my knee, that also, in a way, does excite me because I do think I can come back so much stronger and fitter and better.”
Scarily enough for a player who averaged 21.7 disposals, 12.1 contested possessions, 5.8 tackles, 5.0 clearances and 3.8 inside 50’s this season, Roberts still believes she has plenty of room to grow.
She dealt with hard taggers for the first time this year and while they could not completely contain her, they did slightly lessen her impact and the on-baller said she would be better in the long run for the experience.
“I’ve learned that I’m not a complete player yet, and there’s so many things I still need and want to get after,” she said.
“Fitness was going to be one of my big things this off season, and that can still happen with my knee. I found one of the hardest things with the tagger was outrunning them, so I’m focusing on improving my running.
“And then being more of a consistent player — I feel like I have good games and I have average games. If I can minimise the gap between my best and worst, I’ll be in good stead.”