TNL GF: Cavs young gun reveals injury stress

The uncertainty over a mystery foot injury has pushed Tasmanian netball young gun Lily Case to the limit. She opens up on her recovery and how it’s shaped her for the biggest moment of her career.

Lily Case (right) with Cavaliers teammates Lily McArthur and Hayley McDougall. Picture: Netball Tasmania

All injuries are frustrating, but the uncertainty of why her foot issue kept flaring up was the biggest killer for Cavaliers defender Lily Case.

But after finally nailing the problem, the 18-year-old is ready to help the unbeaten minor premiers end a run of two straight grand final defeats against former side the Hawks in Saturday’s TNL decider.

After last year’s grand final Case’s foot issue turned into a stress fracture. She returned for the start of this season, but was sidelined for a few mid-season games after developing bone stress.

The cuboid bone, on the back outer side of the foot, was the problem and that certainty, combined with the clarity of how to manage it, was a huge relief for the goal-keeper.

After a flare-up just before under-19 nationals, her support team took extra care to ensure she wouldn’t risk longer term issues if she played.

“There was a point earlier this year where my support team and I had to be very cautious to make sure I wasn’t risking permanent bone and structural damage to my foot, if I kept playing after my standard recovery time,” she said.

Lily Case was a training partner for Tasmania Wild this year.. Picture: Netball Tasmania

“That was extremely nerve wracking for me, but thankfully we talked to the right people and I was given the green light,” Case said.

“After (last year’s) grand final I’d been managing a foot problem, but it turned into a stress fracture.

“Then I had a flare up (flare up) in the cuboid bone, but I went away to nationals knowing the risks.”

Case said a stress injury suffered earlier in her career had caused the issue to worsen.

“I had a stress injury when I was younger and it never got fixed. After the fracture the area is weaker given I didn’t correct the original problem,” she said.

“When I got back (from nationals) we did an investigation on what was causing this to reoccur.

“We found out a pre existing injury I had when I was younger, as I got older and did more loading the wrong muscles were doing all the coping.

“I managed to find out the problem and was referred to the right people.

“Since then I’ve been working closely with a great team of physios and podiatrists and strength and conditioning experts, to make I’m doing the training I need to rewire the way my foot had gotten used to doing things.

“At nationals I played and I was fine, but obviously playing a tournament is different to playing just the one game a week.

Lily Case shares a laugh with fellow Cavaliers defender Paige O'Neill. Picture: Zach McArthur

“I knew the risks going in, but after it did mean taking time away from playing.”

Case said the frustration of being unable to pinpoint the exact injury was difficult.

“I had a lot of scans to rule out what issues it could be, which is a tough process for an athlete,” she said.

“It’s hard to come to training, because you love the sport and the team, and telling the girls you can’t play that week.

“It’s not like an ankle sprain where it’s straightforward rehab. We did the standard protocols and to have it come back was frustrating, we had to explore different routes.

“I’m really grateful for my physios because they had the perspective when it happened again this year of how is it going to affect me long term, and how can we make sure it doesn’t become a big problem years later. It’s definitely very frustrating and having to keep coming back from the physios.

“I did different acupuncture and tried all the different medicine routes. I did struggle telling myself it’s not my fault, and I did what I can.”

Lily Case defends a shot against Kingston. Picture: Netball Tasmania

A member of the Tasmania Wild Academy, Case now has an altered training program to “retrain her foot”.

“That’s what’s been able to get me from a place of being confused and not knowing what to do, to being confident doing every step forward,” she said.

Case will partner fellow teenager Paige O’Neill in the Cavaliers’ defensive circle in Saturday’s grand final at the Silverdome.

The Hawks are searching for a third straight flag, but will be underdogs after finishing third on the ladder.

Case and O’Neill no longer have to contend with former Hawks sharpshooter and six-time league MVP Ash Mawer, now playing in Victoria.

Case played under-19s with Hawks in 2022-23 before moving to the Cavs last season.

“That was for opportunity as I knew the coaches over at the Cavs, you have (former coach) Dani Carstens and Katie (O’Neill, current coach) who have big defensive backgrounds,” she said.

“It was a big opportunity to see how I could grow my skills in a new environment.

“It was a very hard decision because I really enjoyed my time at Hawks. I was in the Cavaliers Academy when I was younger, so reconnecting with those girls was lovely.”

The TNL 19 and under grand final between Hawks and Cripps Waratah (2pm Saturday) and the Cavs-Hawks opens decider (4.30pm) will both be streamed live on The Mercury’s website.