SUZY SET FOR HER SWAN SONG
RETIRING Townsville Fire star Suzy Batkovic has declared herself a certain starter for next Saturday’s final home game against the Sydney Flames as she looks to depart the WNBL on her own terms.
Batkovic has been sidelined for more than a month with a pinched nerve in her neck and will again miss this weekend’s double-header against Canberra and Dandenong.
The injury has denied Batkovic a shot at a fairytale championship as the Fire have won just two from seven with their captain on the sidelines to miss the finals for the first time since 2010.
But Batkovic was adamant her neck issue would not stop her from playing one last game in front of her adoring home fans at Townsville Stadium as the Fire look to finish their season on a high.
“Not being able to help the team and play has been difficult, but the chance to come out and be on my home court before I hang up the boots will be really nice,” she said.
“I guess it just depends on the day how it pulls up and how it’s feeling, but I’m hoping to be out there for at least 15, 20 minutes and might get lucky and be able to play some more.
“The first half of it (the injury) was excruciating. It was constant and that was probably the most frustrating thing not knowing and not having a real definite time frame.
“There’s a lot less pain now and I’m not on any meds so that’s a positive.”
Batkovic’s pinched nerve has also affected the power in her left shooting arm, but she has made steady progress on the training court, starting to take what she called “big girl” free throws.
“I’ve been shooting a little bit inside the keyway, but the first time around was a little bit of a shock,” Batkovic said.
“I was still struggling to hit the ring, but as the weeks have progressed I go out and test it every so often and I had Mic Cocks rebound for me the other week and I could shoot inside the key.
“There was one air ball, but I was happy to hit the ring so hopefully by next week there’s some more progression there.”
Batkovic, 38, retires as a sixtime WNBL MVP and fivetime championship-winner, including three with the Fire, while she has also played in three Olympics and won four titles in Europe.
She said she felt it would be “greedy” to expect anything more from basketball and said she was content with her decision to retire despite her recent injury woes.
“I think you get to a point where as much as I’d love to be able to change it and have a run again to try and win a championship it’s not going to happen,” Batkovic said.
“To be able to look back on so many fond memories, whether it’s here or way back when many years ago, I’ve been lucky and I’m really grateful for everything basketball has given me.
“I’ve got a partner who’s been pretty patient and we want to look at different things in life and I want to start a family. There’s a different journey to be had.”
Meanwhile, Fire stars Tess Madgen, 28, and Darcee Garbin, 24, have been named in the 27-player Opals squad for this year’s FIBA women’s Asian Cup and 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Madgen was part of the Australian team which won silver and last year’s World Cup while Garbin is aiming to make her senior national debut.
I GUESS IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE DAY HOW IT PULLS UP AND HOW IT’S FEELING, BUT I’M HOPING TO BE OUT THERE FOR AT LEAST 15, 20 MINUTES SUZY BATKOVIC