Rebecca Ott will play her first game in 730 days after successfully coming out the other side two injury-affected seasons, joining Euro-Yroke’s side for Sunday afternoon in Ballarat as one of three inclusions.
Sunday’s game will mark just shy of two years to the day that Ott last played at senior level having last featured in the final round of Season 7 in late 2022.
The 30-year-old defender was forced from the action in the ensuing seasons after suffering an Achilles injury that ruled her out for the entirety of 2023, before battling through a tibia injury since pre-season.
Ott joins fellow arrivals Rene Caris and Nat Exon in time for Sunday’s game, the latter of whom has missed the past four matches with a rib injury.
Emmelie Fiedler (managed), Ella Friend (omitted) and Kiera Whiley (omitted) come out in place of the returning trio, with Whiley joining Maddie Boyd and Simone Nalder as emergencies.
As part of AFLW Indigenous Round, the Saints will proudly go by the Boon Wurrung name of Euro-Yroke and will wear a special red, yellow and black guernsey designed by Wagiman artist Nathan Patterson across the next fortnight.
Euro-Yroke will face the Western Bulldogs in the mission to keep its finals chances alive this Sunday at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, commencing at 1:05pm.
