Rookie Steel shooter out for season with serious knee injury
GEORGIA Heffernan will miss the rest of the season following a serious knee injury.
Scans confirmed the Southern Steel shooter ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and suffered meniscus damage to her right knee.
It followed an awkward landing during the side’s ANZ Premiership round three match against the Northern Stars in Auckland the weekend before last.
The 20yearold, who was in her first year as a fully contracted player, is now awaiting surgery.
She said it would be upsetting to sit out the remainder of the season.
However, her focus was now on returning as soon as possible.
“It’s a disappointing way to finish the season. I didn’t think I had injured my knee as badly as
I have, but I have to accept that as I can’t change it now,” Heffernan said.
“I’m going to really struggle with only being able to watch — in our round four game on Saturday I was just wishing I was there and I want to stay involved as much as I can with the Steel team.
“It’s just a wait now before surgery and then I’ll get into the rehab side of things and get back as soon as possible.”
Steel coach Reinga Bloxham was disappointed for Heffernan, but said her side would give her full support during her recovery.
‘‘I’m absolutely gutted for her. She had been playing really well and was improving with every outing that she had, so we are all really feeling for her at the moment,’’ Bloxham said.
‘‘I think the most disappointing thing for her is knowing that she had worked really hard in the preseason to be able to contest for the goal attack bib and really give it a good crack.
‘‘Georgia can take some real positives out of the impact that she made this season.’’
The side would continue to look at options before confirming a replacement player.