How Cavs star is seizing second chance after ‘car crash’-like injury battle
Cavaliers co-captain Deanna Wadley didn’t think she’d play netball again after suffering horrific leg and knee injuries two years ago. But she’s relishing a second chance as the Cavs chase an elusive title.
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After suffering injuries likened to a car crash, Cavaliers co-captain Deanna Wadley thought her netball career was over.
But after missing the past two TNL grand finals, both defeats to the Hawks, Wadley is relishing an unexpected chance to help the club grab that elusive flag.
After an unbeaten regular season, the Cavs begin their finals campaign against Kingston this Saturday, with the winner to host the grand final.
Asked if she felt more confident after a full season back on court, Wadley said:
“Definitely. Had you asked me 12 months ago if I’d be playing netball I’d have said absolutely not.
“I’ve really worked hard on my rehab and I’m feeling strong and fit and ready to take it to the court.
“I’m happy to be back playing, and it’s the friendships I’ve built. My Cavs mates are my best mates and they’re the reason I’ve come back.
“I was really lucky last year to take on a coaching role on the bench. They really included me and although I wasn’t physically taking the court, I felt like a part of the team.”
The Cavs clash with a Kingston side they haven’t played for months after their most recent game was cancelled and ruled a draw due to the unavailability of representative players.
“That’s going to be a challenge for us. The reality is we haven’t played Kingston since the second round in March,” Wadley said.
“We’ve got no idea really what we’re coming up against, which is exciting but also very challenging.
“In saying that we’ve been under he impression we would be playing them in finals, so we’ve had a Kingston lens for a period of time.”
The Hawks, who lost just once in winning the past three flags, are in the very unfamiliar position of playing an elimination final against Cripps Waratah.
Captain Lydia Coote said the challenge of finding ways to overcome the loss of stars Ash Mawer and Ellie Marshall to mainland leagues has been enjoyable.
“It definitely feels a lot different but it’s also really exciting as a club and as a team to have new perspective on a season,” she said.
“I’ve said a few times since I started playing for the Hawks we’ve had basically the same team each season, aside from a couple of players.
“It’s really nice to have fresh faces and it’s exciting as a player to try new things and have a challenge, to fix things and work things out.”
Coote also convinced sister Tessa, last year’s grand final MVP, to come out of retirement.
“We got Tess back in, we wanted our 19s to have a solid team and to keep building and not take away from that, because they deserve a premiership,” Coote said.
The Hawks under-19s have lost just once before Saturday’s qualifying final against Devon.
They were in exactly the same position last year before bowing out of finals in straight sets. But co-captain Heidi Curtis said it’s a valuable learning experience.
“Being the team to beat, we have to pull out some great netball because the other teams will be coming for us,” she said.
“As a new and young team (last year) we’d heard finals is a whole new ball game, but when we got there the nerves were there and the quality rose again.
“Now we know that, we’re more physically and mentally prepared and that will help us calm those nerves.”
All four finals games will be live streamed on this website via Kommunity TV HERE.
TNL FINALS WEEK ONE - SATURDAY, SILVERDOME
12pm: Opens elimination final - Hawks v Cripps Waratah
2pm: 19s elimination final - Cripps Waratah v Kingston
4pm: 19s qualifying final - Hawks v Devon
6pm: Opens qualifying final - Cavaliers v Kingston
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