THE REIGNING NAB AFLW Rising Star winner will attempt to plot rivals' downfall from the sidelines next year.

Collingwood defender Chloe Molloy won't have the chance to back up her outstanding debut campaign – at least until the 2020 season – because of a Lisfranc injury in her right foot

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The No.3 pick in the 2017 draft underwent surgery in late September, with her setback compounding the defections of Emma King, Jess Duffin, Jasmine Garner and Moana Hope (North Melbourne) and Christina Bernardi (Greater Western Sydney). 

Molloy sustained the injury in the Magpies' heartbreaking 14-point VFLW preliminary final loss to Geelong.

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She will instead work alongside Collingwood list manager and performance analyst Jess Burger as an opposition analyst. 

The Pies' VFLW coach and former player Penny Cula-Reid, a development coach with the AFLW squad, told AFL.com.au that they were keen to continue Molloy's football education. 

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"It completely shattered me as a coach in the VFL season," Cula-Reid said of Molloy's injury. 

"But Chloe's going to take on a new role in opposition analysis, so we're going to get her doing some work with our analysis team and really developing her brain as a footballer.

"Someone so young, she still has lots of learning to do, and this is the best way we see for her to still be involved in the team, but also increasing that football knowledge. 

"As we all know, she's going to be the future leader of the club, so we want to make sure we do everything we can to (develop her) both on and off the field."

Molloy won Collingwood's best and fairest award and finished in a three-way tie behind Bulldog Emma Kearney in the League equivalent at the W Awards after a brilliant rookie campaign

It came after the Magpies placed the 20-year-old in an unfamiliar role down back despite her being a junior standout in attack.

Molloy's 14.4 disposals (6.1 contested) per game – at an impressive 74.3 per cent efficiency – were the second-most at the club and she averaged a team-high three rebound 50s.