Former Thunderbird Jess Paradiso nee Hazel set to return to netball courts with Tango this Premier League season
After six years out of the game and becoming a mum to three, this former national and state league netballer is ready to hit the court again.
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It has been almost six years since this ex-Thunderbird goalie and Premier League Netball MVP winner hit the court.
But Jess Paradiso (nee Hazel) is ready to restart her netball career after giving birth to her three children – Jacob, 4, and twins Isabella and Evie, 2.
The goal attack will line up with Tango when the Premier League Netball season starts on July 17.
“I suppose that ‘mum life’ took over and I just needed something to feel myself again and do something with my own time,” Paradiso said.
“(Ex-Tango coach) Scott Waddington he called me and showed an interest so I thought I’d bite the bullet and give it a go.
“Just before Scott called me, I decided to really get back into fitness again and started running so I almost feel that my body is fitter and stronger than it used to be.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back out there.”
Paradiso spent one campaign with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2006 when the national netball competition was known as the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.
She featured with Newton Jaguars for most of her Premier League career and claimed the competition’s MVP award in 2013.
The now 31-year-old then went to Tango in 2014 for a “new challenge” and to play under former Australian netball coach and captain Michelle Den Dekker.
She was looking forward to returning to Tango and reuniting with coach Jackie Blyth, who was her mentor during a brief stint as a 16-year-old with Woods Panthers.
Blyth is Tango’s new coach after switching from leading Garville and taking the reins from Waddington.
“I played with Tango in what I thought would be my final year of netball,” Paradiso said.
“I played a couple of seasons under Jackie when I first started, but it’s nice to have a familiar face and the transition was really smooth because she’s really experienced.
“Hopefully I can add a lot of experience to the side and bring back a bit of the old-school ways.”
There was a time when Paradiso thought she may not get to make her come back this year, with the COVID-19 shutdown threatening to derail the 2020 Premier League season.
But, with SA recording low new coronavirus case numbers and restrictions being lifted with community sport and crowd numbers, Netball SA announced last month the Premier League season would begin on July 17.
Paradiso did not expect her children to watch every game live, fearing she would not be able to focus if they were shouting “mum” from the stands.
Tango will be hoping to improve on its fourth-place finish in 2019 when its campaign kicks off against Oakdale at Netball SA Stadium on Friday, July 17, at 7pm.
The first four rounds of the Premier League will be free for spectators.