Launceston’s Guy ready for Roos return after injury

Lockdowns and an ACL injury has Launceston’s Jennifer Guy champing at the bit to return for North Melbourne’s VFLW side.

Launceston's Jennifer Guy is preparing to return to football with North Melbourne's VFLW side after injury. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

FIRST it was lockdowns. Then an ACL injury virtually wiped out her 2022 season with North Melbourne’s VFL side.

But Launceston’s Jennifer Guy isn’t looking too far ahead as she tries to make more inroads in the Kangaroos burgeoning women’s system.

North Melbourne was one of the success stories in last year’s AFLW, making the finals for the first time.

However aspirations of playing in the top flight aren’t on Guy’s mind, at least in the immediate future.

The 26-year-old was set to play the VFL grand final with unbeaten Collingwood in 2021, before Covid lockdowns forced it to be cancelled.

She shifted to the Roos last season, but lasted just a couple of games before her knee gave way.

“There wasn’t really much in it when I did it (injury), just a simple change of direction,” she said.

“I’m about seven and a half months post surgery so I’m back into running and gym, it’s just changes of direction I’m easing into.

“My main focus is just getting through my rehab, getting my knee strong again, having confidence in that and ticking off that first game back.

“That will be a milestone, just getting back to enjoying footy and going from there.”

Guy has kept herself busy as an assistant coach with Old Launcestonians’ women’s squad.

She said taking her turn to go hard at the ball when back on the field will be the litmus test.

“That will be my biggest challenge the first day back (playing), just to get on with it and not worrying about it,” she said.

“We did drills at training the other day and someone asked me how I went and I had completely forgotten about it, so that gives me confidence.”

Guy said the lockdowns in Melbourne were a tough period, especially being unable to cap a perfect season with the Magpies.

“The isolation was definitely tough being in Melbourne. I think we went through three lockdowns during the season,” she said.

“That was the hardest bit, you’d get into a rhythm and then go into lockdown again.

“The last lockdown was about eight weeks, they called off the grand final and I was pretty keen to get home.”

North Melbourne begins its VFLW season against Geelong on March 25.