MELBOURNE’S Shae Sloane will miss the rest of the 2019 AFLW season, after scans revealed on Monday morning that she had injured her right anterior cruciate ligament during Melbourne’s round one loss to Fremantle.

Debuting for the Demons, Sloane fell awkwardly in a marking contest during the second quarter, before being assisted from the field and sitting out the remainder of the game.

AFLW football operations manager Daniel McPherson said it was a devastating outcome for the 26-year-old, in her first game of the AFL Women’s competition.

“Shae was involved in an innocuous incident on Sunday at Casey Fields, and unfortunately scans have confirmed that she has torn her anterior cruciate ligament,” he told Melbourne Media.

“Shae has been a terrific addition to our Club this year, and although this injury is an extremely disappointing result, Shae will continue to play an important support role for the rest of the girls throughout the remainder of this season.”

Sloane, a former captain of the Australian volleyball team and sister to Adelaide’s Rory, joined Melbourne as a rookie in June of last year.

“Given she has just crossed over to AFLW, Shae will now have the opportunity to work closely with our coaching staff and develop her knowledge of the game, to help ensure she comes back an even better player when she returns to the field next year,” McPherson said.

“Shae will be given all the support she needs, as she prepares to begin her recovery from this setback.” 

After playing for Melbourne’s VFLW side, the Casey Demons, in the backend of 2018, the cross-coder began to develop her confidence in the game.

Sloane played football in her junior years and had only returned to the sport through her opportunity with Melbourne.