Friends share in struggle of injury
ONE Adelaide Crows teammate felt Sophie Armitstead’s pain more than all others when the midfielder suffered a season-ending knee injury last week.
Heather Anderson was fellow Darwin-based star Armitstead’s constant companion in a brutal 2016 for each of them as they recovered from respective long-term injuries.
For Anderson it was her shoulder, while Armitstead was on the comeback trail from a knee issue.
“When Sophie was being carried off, my heart just sank,” Anderson, 22, told the Sunday Territorian.
“We did our recovery together and got injured around the same time and played our first game (back) at the same time.
“So having that first-hand knowledge of what she’s been through to get back to where she was and for it to happen again, she’s just shown an incredible amount of resilience and optimism.
“I have no doubt she’ll be back for the 2018 season.”
Armitstead had surgery in Adelaide to repair a meniscal tear in her left knee and is expected to recover within four to eight weeks.
She will travel back to Darwin with her Crows teammates after today’s clash with Carlton.
“Sophie was always incred- ibly fearless and tenacious with her recovery, but was very much someone I confided in about mine and she provided a lot of reassurance,” Anderson said.
“She was someone who had a lot of understanding of my position, as opposed to people not familiar with the situation.”
Anderson, an army medic, has been one of the unbeaten Crows’ best players through two rounds in a defensive role that sees her lockdown on opponents at times and attack at others.
That skillset could see her man Blues dynamo Darcy Vescio, whose six goals lead the AFL Women’s competition.
“I haven’t heard too much yet about who I’ll be on or what my role will be, but it’s definitely a challenge I’m willing to have a crack at,” Anderson said of Vescio.
“She’s an ex-teammate of mine – I’ve played with her at the Bulldogs (in AFL exhibition matches) – so I’ve got a bit of knowledge of how extremely talented she is.
“She’s one of the key forwards in the entire competition, so to be given that kind of role would be a massive compliment for me and my ability.
“But, on the other hand, it could be a bit embarrassing. I have an incredible amount of respect for her, just as a player and person, so it could be interesting if they put me on her.”