Phoenix netballer expected to miss season with blood clot returns for finals

KYLIE Jarrett is gearing up for another finals series with Phoenix Netball Club but she is glad just to be back on the court after a blood clot had threatened to end her season.

KYLIE Jarrett is gearing up for another finals series with Phoenix Netball Club but she is glad just to be back on the court.

Jarrett, of Enfield, was struck down during a February pre-season game with what was initially believed to be a torn calf.

A doctor later diagnosed the injury as a “significant” deep vein thrombosis, put the veteran goal shooter on blood thinners and ruled her out for the season.

“I was kind of told it’d be a six-month period of time (on the sidelines),” Jarrett, 31, says.

“The doctors are perplexed as to how it happened.

“I had three weeks off work, couldn’t really walk and my leg was purple, and quite puffy.

“It was quite scary.”

After seeing a vascular surgeon and taking her medication, Jarrett returned to training earlier than expected.

Her comeback game was against Contax last month but she has since had limited court-time to keep her fresh for tonight’s elimination final against Garville at Netball SA Stadium.

A blood clot remains in Jarrett’s calf but doctors tell her if she continues to take aspirin, it should dissipate later this year.

“I was hoping to come back and play so the fact I have has been awesome.

“I’m feeling good now.”

Jarrett joined Oakdale from Newton Jaguars in 2006 and played in a premiership three years later.

In 2010, Oakdale’s top team merged with Cheerio to form Phoenix.

Jarrett says a premiership will be icing on the cake after a difficult season.

“That would be amazing.

“I think I could pretty much retire after that.”