LAUREN YOUNG’s parents could not believe their luck when the talented teen went down with a second serious knee injury in just over two years.

Not just because it would mean she would miss another season of football, her first at AFLW level, but because they had just dealt with their son recovering from a similar injury.

“My brother did his ACL when I played my first game back from my (first) ACL and then I did mine again on the same day as his first game back from his ACL,” Young said matter-of-factly.

“You can imagine the thoughts my parents went through, having both kids with ACL injuries three years in a row.

“But they’re used to it now and they’ve been really supportive.”

It has been over a month since Young went down during the first quarter of West Adelaide’s SANFLW game against Woodville-West Torrens.

Initially she feared the worst, particularly having gone through a similar experience in 2021, but there was a moment of hope in the trainer’s room.

“When I did my first (ACL) I didn't really know what it was, I thought it was just a corky,” the teenager said.

“As soon as I hit the deck this time, I was just in tears because I kind of knew what I’d done.

“All I remember was going for a ball, I pushed a girl, then she pushed me, and on my landing, I felt a crack.

“When the trainers came over, they were trying to calm me down, telling me it may not be what I thought, but the pain was gone by the time I got to the trainer’s room so I asked if I could go on the next quarter, but then I stood up and it collapsed again.

“There was a lot of swelling, so I had some hope until I had the scan.”

While the news was understandably devastating for an 18-year-old gearing up for her first crack at elite football after dominating in the underage state and national competitions, she took it with a newfound calmness that she admits she has not always had.

“It wasn’t great news but I’m definitely more mature this time around,” Young said.

“When I did my first one, I thought it was the end of the world but now I’m focused on just getting through rehab and coming back better.

“It will definitely hit when games are starting but you can't really do anything about it. You kind of have to control what you can control.

“I'm only 18, like it's only a year when you really think about it – especially when you had players like Erin Phillips still playing when they’re 38.”

Having the support of teammates has helped, although Young admitted she was “hopeless” at responding to messages and still had several to get back to.

She has formed a close-nit group with Indy Tahau and Georgie Jaques in particular and they are supporting each other though their respective ACL recoveries.

“Having Georgie and Indy there is a massive positive, just having them support me through this as well,” she said.

“You’d rather not have three of us with knee injuries but going through it together means we can help each other stay positive.”

While she won’t be on the field this season, and she admits to being a terrible spectator, Young is keen to be involved and help her new Port Adelaide side in season 2024.

“I'm probably the worst spectator you’ll see. At Westies, sitting out the whole season (after my first ACL injury) I used to do the behind the goals vision because I wanted and needed something to occupy myself during the games because I just wanted to be out there.

“I’m not sure I should be in the coaches’ box, but I'm very excited to see how the young girls go this year - this is going to be one of Port’s really good years.”

If Young has anything to do with it, Port Adelaide will be having many good years to come.