ALEESHA’S ALL HEART IN JAGS BID
NINE months ago, netball was the furthest thing from the mind of Golden South Jaguars goal shooter Aleesha Adams after a mystery ailment floored the 31-year-old.
Today, after discovering she had a hole in her heart following a routine training session, Adams will be back on the court to help teammates as they begin their Queensland State Netball League season against Suncoast Lynx.
“It took me six months (after the operation) to be allowed back into training again,” she said.
NINE months ago, netball was the furthest thing from the mind of Golden South Jaguars goal shooter Aleesha Adams.
Taking part in the Jags’ final training session for the 2017 Queensland State Netball League, the 31-year-old was floored by a mystery ailment.
“We were doing a routine drill, I went up to shoot the ball and I couldn’t lift my arms above my head,” the 194cm Pacific Pines resident said.
“I got a bit dizzy and we had heart rate monitors on so I asked (the staff) what mine was and they said it was about 186 beats per minute. It wouldn’t come down so I ended up in hospital for about three days.
“I didn’t know I had anything wrong at the time but (I found out) I had a big hole in my heart. I had surgery in September and it was a routine procedure and there were no complications.”
Fast forward to May 15 and the Kiwi-born star is ready to lead the Jags’ 2018 QSNL title tilt, beginning with tonight’s Round 1 battle with Suncoast Lynx at Logan.
With the heart scare behind her, Adams will be a key figure in the side’s bid to improve on a 2017 season that yielded just three wins.
“It took me six months (after the operation) to be allowed back into training again … so from the end of February I was allowed to get back into it.
“I think we were (disappointed last season), we had a very slow start. We do want to get in the top four this year.
“Our team is very different from last year, we’ve got a few players returning, some new ones and some very old Jags coming back. I don’t think the other teams are going to know what hit them.
“It’s going to be good to get out there to show them what we’ve got and what we’ve been training for.”
Among the recruits is South African Rieze Straeuli, who joins Adams and Gemma Robinson as attacking options.
Veteran centre/wing defence Lisa Vincze has also returned from Newcastle to captain the Jags, who will be without injured Firebirds training partner Kristen Oxenford (ankle) for the early rounds.
While the changes to the squad mean it make take time to blend, returning coach Paula Stuart sets the bar high.
“I go in it to win it so I do want to make finals this year. We’re going to have a hard time but we’ll take up the challenge,” she said.