Hawthorn captain Emily Bates out for AFLW season with torn ACL

Hawthorn AFLW captain Emily Bates will miss the rest of the 2026 season. The club confirmed on September 14 scans showed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, plus meniscus damage. The 30-year-old three-time All-Australian hurt it when her leg twisted in a tackle against the Western Bulldogs. Hawthorn says she will have surgery.