Gold Coast vice-captain Jaime Stanton will miss the rest of the AFLW season with a knee injury, continuing a horror run of setbacks for players across the competition.
Scans have revealed Stanton suffered a full rupture of an anterior cruciate ligament during the Suns' thumping of West Coast on Sunday.
"It's devastating news for Jamie, who has been an integral part of the club's AFLW program since our inaugural game," Gold Coast head of women's football Fiona Sessarago said.
"She's a much-loved member of this squad and we will all be supporting her throughout her rehabilitation to see her return to the field stronger than ever."
In better news for Gold Coast, fellow leadership group member Ellie Hampson is a chance to return from a quadriceps injury in Saturday's Q-Clash against Brisbane.
Meanwhile, expansion side Port Adelaide have lost star forward Gemma Houghton for at least six weeks after she underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old suffered a syndesmosis injury when her foot was caught underneath her body in a tackle.
The serious setbacks for Stanton and Houghton follow season-ending knee injuries to St Kilda's Jayde Van Dyk, GWS defender Pepa Randall and Hawthorn's Tamara Luke out of the weekend's matches.
Western Bulldogs utility Brit Gutknecht broke both her tibia and fibula in a horrific incident when an opponent fell across her leg.
The round-two carnage came on top of ACL tears for experienced Eagle Kellie Gibson and Brisbane defender Lily Postlethwaite in round one.
