Magpie can finally join her nettie nest
COLLINGWOOD goal shooter Shimona Nelson can finally train with her teammates on Thursday after having had to remain in quarantine in Brisbane while the rest of the Magpies moved to the Sunshine Coast.
Nelson was a late arrival in Super Netball’s Queensland hub last month after being forced to stay in isolation in Victoria for another five days following the Magpies’ departure from Melbourne.
The 21 year-old Jamaican international self-reported a potential exposure to COVID-19, with contact deemed low risk.
Having returned a negative test, Nelson arrived in Brisbane on July 23 to start a 14-day period in quarantine.
Despite staying in the same hotel as her Magpies teammates, she could have no contact with them, was unable to train with them and took no part in Collingwood’s 63-52 loss to the Vixens last Sunday at Nissan Arena.
While the rest of the Magpies moved to the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday, Nelson has been forced to stay an extra couple of days in Brisbane, where she has had the support of Magpies media officer Tash Lewis.
“Getting to the last day I’m excited,” Nelson said ahead of her drive to the Sunshine Coast, where preparations for the Magpies’ clash with the Lightning on Sunday have stepped up a notch.
“I miss the interaction with the girls, being around them, talking to them about anything, and seeing their faces, that’s the part I really do miss.
“I am over-thinking a little but I just need to get in action and then I’ll be back with it.”
Despite watching from her hotel room, Nelson said she felt the Magpies’ “presence and energy” in their weekend loss.
“I felt the nerves, the anxiety, the excitement, them celebrating the little wins on the court … I’m there watching and I’m jumping,” she said.
Despite the frustrations of being in quarantine, Nelson has used her time wisely.
The Deacon University psychological science student said she was “way ahead” with her studies.
“I’m up to week six when it’s only week three,” Nelson said. She has also had more time than usual to speak to her family in Jamaica.
“I’ve been able to be in contact with them more often,” said Nelson, who was grateful her family wasn’t in a lockdown situation.
“I’m able to talk to them whenever they call and I’m not too tired to stay up and talk to them, so it’s been really good.
“They have (920) cases and are still trying to keep it down, but for them that’s a lot of cases because it’s a really small island.
“They’re able to move around.”