There's nothing more deflating for an AFL fan base than news of an ACL injury.

The injury, particularly for young players, has robbed the footballing world of some of its most exciting talents.

With Carlton's prized draftee, Jagga Smith, rupturing his ACL, we decided to compile a list of some of the AFL's best young prospects who successfully recovered from season-ending injuries to forge great careers.

The following players should (hopefully) give Carlton fans a small glimmer of hope.

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6. Tom Liberatore

Bulldogs midfield enforcer Tom Liberatore has also experienced his share of knee troubles that threatened to derail the beginning of his career.

Taken by the Bulldogs as a father-son selection, Liberatore quickly became one of the league's most promising contested players. In just his third season with the club, he finished second in their best and fairest count before taking out the Charles Sutton Medal in 2014.

However, in 2015, an ACL injury struck a then-22-year-old Liberatore, forcing him to miss that entire season.

His return from injury was stellar, with Liberatore becoming one of the key cogs for the Bulldogs' premiership success in 2016. The midfielder remained one of the game's most punishing players, tying the record for most tackles in a match against Melbourne that year, alleviating any fears over the long-term effects of the injury.

Although he re-injured his knee in 2018, Liberatore remains one of the league's most consistent accumulators of the ball and a vital piece of the Bulldogs' premiership hunt for 2025.

AFL Grand Final - Sydney v Western Bulldogs
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Tom Liberatore of the Bulldogs shares a beer with his dad Tony Liberatore during the 2016 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 01, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
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