ERIN Skewes' season may be over, but the Bulldogs midfielder nearly lost so much more when she suffered spinal injuries during her side's clash at Moree on Saturday.
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The 23-year-old was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital with suspected spinal injuries after being knocked out in a tackle during her side's clash with the Inverell Saints.
The match was abandoned to allow paramedics access to the ground to treat the popular member of the AFL North West community.
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Once at Moree hospital, Ms Skewes had lost feeling in her left leg and was transported to John Hunter Hospital.
However, Skewes told the Leader she was on the mend.
"I can't remember anything about how it happened, just what the girls on the field have told me," Ms Skewes said.
"Apparently, I've just put my head in the wrong position, copped a body to the back of my head and neck.
"[Luckily] it was just bruising to the spinal cord, no broken bones and we knew there was no broken bones from the CT scan done in Moree.
"But because I'd lost a bit of sensation and feeling in my left leg and foot, I was sent to John Hunter just as a precaution."
Skewes along with close friend Shannon Campbell had joined Gunnedah at the beginning of the season after the Tamworth Kangaroos opted not to field a women's team this season.
Despite the severity of the situation, Skewes said she felt calm "in Moree because I had Shannon with me the entire time keeping me pretty well distracted".
"At this stage, it looks like no more contact sport unfortunately with this being my second head and neck injury in two years," Ms Skewes said.
"I'm doing alright at the moment, I'm up and moving around easier now."
The injury is a cruel blow to the Bulldogs' hopes of winning a premiership in their maiden season, as they prepare to tackle the Tamworth Swans in the AFL North West women's grand final on September 26.
"It's just my bloody luck to be injured two weeks out from a grand final," Ms Skewes said.
"I'm more just thinking about getting through the next two weeks being on the sideline rather than long term."
Ms Skewes said the support and well wishes of the region's Aussie Rules community had helped her come to terms with not playing in the grand final.
"I've had messages from so many of the Dogs, Roos and even a few of the Swans and Saints girls have gotten in contact with both Shannon and I to keep updated and to see how I have been," she said.
"I really appreciate the support."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
