HEALTH BATTLE IN PAST AS TAYLOR TO DEBUT
TAYLOR Smith spent the eve of the AFLW season in and out of hospital.
Now she’s booked her ticket to Perth to make her debut against the West Coast Eagles tomorrow – albeit in front of an empty stadium after the AFLW confirmed yesterday only essential staff, officials and media would be allowed to attend Round 6 games due to coronavirus concerns.
Two months before the AFLW pre-season, Smith had a tonsillectomy after battling illnesses caused by the tonsils on and off for years.
What followed were multiple trips to hospital, a few ambulance rides and a fight to get her season back on track after complications left her coughing up blood and sapped of energy.
“I was in hospital for five days,” Smith said. “The first time, the bleeding was pretty scary but then I went home and it happened again but I was able to stay at home.
“I woke up at 5am the next morning and the bleeding was really scary and they actually put me in the resuscitation unit because it was life-threatening so it was quite stressful and took a toll on my mental health as well.
“I’ve only been playing footy for
2½ years now as of this month, so to take away three months trying to work through the aftermath has been extremely hard.”
Smith’s recovery will come to a head when the 20-year-old debuts against the Eagles tomorrow. The former national-level heptathlete was overcome by emotion after receiving a phone call from Suns head coach David Lake during the week
“I usually get a call from my forward line coach (John Taylor) but instead I got a call from Lakey,” she said. “He said, ‘How would you feel if I gave you a run this weekend?’ ”
A pre-game Subway and folded socks are a must for Smith as she prepares to inspire her side to their second victory against the Eagles.