Shepp News |
There will be no stopping Morgan Gibson once she is fit to return to the court.
The time cannot come soon enough for the 18-year-old when she can put an illness-riddled pre-season behind her and dive head first into her Shepparton A-grade and Victorian Netball League commitments.
Preparations for North East Blaze’s VNL season began last September, while the Bears selected their teams before the new year.
Gibson suffered her first setback with an illness during the January school holidays, but was soon back on the training track.
Then a bruise on her leg sustained about five weeks ago began to cause concern when it became painful to the point where Gibson said she could not walk.
She was forced to go to a hospital emergency department when the skin split, but had surgery a few days later on Easter Monday to clean out the wound when it became apparent antibiotics were not clearing it up.
Gibson was left with three cuts about 3
She put the illness down to juggling netball commitments and her Year 12 school commitments taking its toll on her immune system.
It was frustrating for Gibson to have put in the hard yards fighting back from one illness, only to be struck down again.
It was even worse when she was unable to walk for a week after the surgery.
‘‘I just really want things to get well this time and not get sick again. When you’re sick you just wish that you are out there,’’ she said.
‘‘I just wish I was fit right now.’’
Gibson started back at training with Shepparton on Thursday night and hoped to be able to play a quarter of netball next round when the Bears play Rochester, then make a full return after the split round.
She said it would be probably another fortnight before she was back training with the Blaze.
This is her third VNL season and first in division one after two years in the 19-and-under team.
Gibson played the first match of the season against City West Falcons and was already loving the lift in intensity.
She had wanted to get some of her fitness back before attempting a return and was disappointed about what the setback meant for her development.
‘‘I’ve been improving for the last two years, just constant improvement, but now it’s just come to a stop and I don’t feel like I’m getting anywhere, but I will hopefully soon,’’ she said.
