Dogs midcourter Krystal Day is recovering at home after undergoing surgery on her ulnar and radius on Sunday.

The former Warrnambool coach was hurt in the opening stages of the Dogs’ Warrnambool and District league clash against Panmure on Saturday.

The match was abandoned with both sides sharing the premiership points.

“I realised how serious it was when I saw bone out of my skin,” Day said. 

“The first thing I thought was ‘oh my god, I won’t be able to play finals’.

“It was so painful – 10 out of 10 – but I was so lucky to have Katie Burt present because she kicked everyone into gear, allocated jobs straight away, rang triple zero.”

Day, who praised both clubs for their support, said the injury was the most serious of her career.

She had a plate and screws, which will remain for life, inserted and will wear a cast for up to six weeks.

She said Panmure coach Mandy van Rooy – her opponent at the time – sent a text message and flowers.

“I had a look at the video. My teammate Sarah (Jacobs) passed it to me and Mandy went under me to contest it and our arms tangled,” Day said.

“I was up in the air and it was a fair way to land and my whole body weight went on my wrist.”

Day, who left hospital on Tuesday, wants to jump on an exercise bike as soon as the pain, which she rates as “seven out of 10” post-surgery, subsides.

She said playing finals for the Dennington, which is chasing back-to-back A grade flags, remained a long shot. But the mother-of-three refuses to give up on that dream after returning to the club this season to help the Dogs’ quest.

“I will still try and work on my fitness and if I am lucky enough for it to heal before finals, I might get a quarter,” she said.

“I have worked on my fitness and it’s the most I have put into my own game, so I am definitely shattered.

“I was happy where we were going as a team, we were really starting to mesh and become one.

“But this experience has brought us closer together.”