Hamstring tear ends Kimberley girl and Melbourne Demon Krstel Petrevski’s AFLW season

A severe hamstring injury might have put a premature end to her 2021 AFLW season but Krstel Petrevski says she is taking it all in her stride. Earlier this week, Melbourne Demons announced the 19-year-old would be ruled out for the remainder of the season after tearing her hamstring tendon during the Demons’ round two match against Richmond Tigers. The Halls Creek-born midfielder said she remembered running at full pace towards the ball, which had spilled into open space after a kick from the backline at the time, and feeling a strong pull followed by a pop. “My first instinct was to just get off the field because I knew something was wrong,” she said. “I was trying to run off as fast as I could so someone else could come on but I couldn’t even do that and I just remember dropping to the ground. “I haven’t watched it back yet but I remember punching the ground and getting back up and trying to run off again until the physios came out to help me. “I had never felt that kind of pain before and my mind just went blank once I got off the field because it was that painful.” When she found out the full extent of her injury, Petrevski said she was heartbroken that she would not be able to play again this season, particularly after COVID-19 put an abrupt end to the 2020 season. “Obviously it’s heartbreaking in the sense that we had spent so much time waiting to be able to play again and for me I had been working extremely hard on my game and establishing myself,” she said. “The timing of it all was disappointing but I know it could happen to anyone and it could have been a lot worse. “I’m very grateful that I have avoided the need for surgery and I know I am in the best hands and I have the best support around me.” Petrevski said the injury has given her an opportunity to work on another aspect rather than solely focusing on her on-field skills. “This is giving me the opportunity to work on something else in my game and better me in a different aspect other than just playing footy,” she said. “We’re still in season so I’ll still be able to watch the other girls run out. I can’t wipe the smile off my face at the prospect of that actually.” “As much as I’d love to come back to Halls Creek and see my family, unfortunately I don’t think I’d be able to,” she said. “Besides that I think being in Melbourne puts me in a better position in terms of my rehab with the facilities we have and the support here has been fantastic. “I have been Facetiming my family so much that I think they’re starting to get sick of seeing my face on their phones. “I’m always keeping in contact with my parents and cousins regardless of where I am so I still have their support as well. “Everything seems to change every couple of hours so we’ve just got to roll with it and take it as it comes.”