YOUNG Gold Coast star Ava Usher has avoided a serious knee injury and "would have played" this weekend if the Suns were still alive.

Usher crashed to the turf in the dying minutes of Sunday's elimination final loss to Hawthorn and immediately grabbed her right knee.

Leaving the field in obvious distress, initial fears were Usher had re-injured the knee she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in during 2024.

However, those concerns were quickly allayed and scans earlier this week confirmed good news.

"She got away with it," relieved coach Rhyce Shaw told AFL.com.au.

"She's just got a little medial strain, which is very minor, to be honest.

"If we got through this week, she would have played, I reckon.

"Thank God that's the case because it didn't look great at the time. We're very lucky she’s escaped serious injury."

In a season of breakthroughs for Gold Coast, Usher's story was one of the more remarkable.

A highly decorated junior, the Suns Academy graduate missed the past two years dealing with her initial surgery and then ensuing complications to the knee.

She wasted no time making her presence felt in the AFLW, not only earning a Telstra AFLW Rising Star nomination, but gaining selection in the 42-strong All-Australian squad.

Usher kicked 12 goals in 12 games and was a constant menace in the front half of the ground with her blistering speed, excellent decision-making and classy ball use.

"She obviously hadn't played for a couple of years, but we knew what to expect from Ava," Shaw said.

"She goes after the game and after the contest as much as she can. 

"She's full of energy, she's a great part of our team, a great player. 

"We knew there would be some teething problems and there was, and Ava would be first to admit to that, but what she's achieved this year has been nothing short of remarkable coming off the limited footy she had played."