How Cavs star returned to netball after ‘car crash’-like injuries

Cavaliers co-captain Deanna Wadley thought she’d never play netball again after suffering horrific knee and leg injuries in a game. After a 638-day test of resilience, she’s back playing the game she loves. Here’s her story.

Cavalier's co-captain Deanna Wadley is back playing netball this season, 21 months after suffering horrific knee and leg injuries in a game. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Two days after suffering a netball injury likened to a ‘traumatic car accident’, Cavaliers co-captain Deanna Wadley was already making plans to run her first marathon.

When she stepped on court for the TNL’s opening round against Kingston last Saturday, it ended a 638-day mental and physical test she passed with flying colours.

In May, 2023 against South East Suns, the 27-year-old ruptured her lateral collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments, and fractured her fibula, femur and tibia when she landed awkwardly taking a pass playing goal-attack.

She thought her playing days were over, but as she ticked off each minor milestone in her long rehabilitation process a return to court felt more within reach.

“I think it was 21 months or so since I played my last netball game and (last week) it felt like nothing had changed really,” Wadley said.

“Although when I did that injury, I was pretty adamant I was never going to play netball again.

“It was a massive confidence rock and personally, especially with my job (police officer) I felt it’s not worth it.

“I only really played netball to have a great time with my best mates. It was a matter of weighing up whether it was worth it, but I had to slowly chip away at it to a point there where I returned to court.

“There were a couple of comments made it sounded like I’d been in a traumatic car accident. I landed really awkwardly and unfortunately happened to fracture a couple of bones and tear every ligament I possibly could.”

Deanna Wadley playing for the Cavaliers. Picture: JESS STEVENSON

Wadley wasted no time on the road to recovery, beginning her rehab in the gym just two days after surgery, which was completed three months after the injury.

“I’m a pretty motivated person so when I did the injury on the Saturday, I was in seeing the doctor and the surgeon on the Tuesday” she said.

“I was lucky in that respect, but I had surgery and I was literally back in the gym chipping away at my rehab straight away.

“I didn’t want to sit home and do nothing, I wanted to keep myself occupied and that was chipping away at my rehab every day.”

Her day job requires perseverance, but Wadley said it’s a trait she prides herself on.

Regardless of what job I do that’s the type of person I am. I think I’m a resilient person and I didn’t let it get the better of me.”

Just ten months after surgery Wadley completed her first marathon on the Gold Coast, a goal which helped keep her motivated through the rehabilitation process.

Post surgery I said to my physio a couple of days later this is the goal I want to do,” she said. “For me straight line running was one of the only things I could actually do, it was really important I didn’t do any side-to-side movements.

“A marathon was a goal I wanted to tick off and ten months post surgery, I ran the Gold Coast Marathon.”

Deanna Wadley competing in the Gold Coast Marathon. Picture: Instagram

Wadley is co-captain at the Cavaliers this season and has shifted to wing-attack.

Last year’s grand finalists secured two wins last weekend against Kingston and Cripps Waratah to begin the season, and will start heavy favourites to make it three-from-three against the Suns at the Silverdome on Saturday.

The Cavaliers-Suns open and under-19 games will be streamed on The Mercury website and can be found HERE.

Asked how she felt when first stepping on court last week, Wadley said:

“I would say it felt like an accomplishment, however it also felt like nothing had changed really. It was nice to be back on court.

“I said to a couple of people I felt like a small fish in a big pond. I felt like I was running around like a headless chook, but they assured me I didn’t look like that so I’ll trust them.

“It’s definitely a trust and confidence thing and I really try not to think about it. I am still trying to do my rehab a couple of times a week and I had a hamstring graft, so it’s important for me to do hamstring activations before a game.

“When I did the injury I played GA so I felt like I’ve hung up that bib.”

SATURDAY - TNL ROUND THREE

Kingston v Devon at Kingborough Sports Centre (19s 2pm, opens 3.30pm)

Hawks v Karana at Silverdome (19s 2.30pm, opens 4pm)

Cavaliers v SE Suns at Silverdome (19s 4pm, opens 5.30pm)