BERNIE Meade is well versed on achilles injuries.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She's a podiatrist who has now snapped achilles in both her left and right legs.
The Port Fairy netballer, who was anointed Seagulls' captain this season, will see a surgeon in Melbourne and then tackle her rehabilitation after hurting herself against Hampden league rival Camperdown on Saturday.
Meade, 29, said she had injured her achilles for the first time five or six years ago.
She knows what the recovery period entails.
"It is long and slow but I guess having done it before it's a little less scary," Meade said.
"I kind of know what to do and don't have to worry about doing the other one anymore, which everyone always says they're worried about.
"I guess I can move my worries to other things."
Meade, who is getting around on crutches, will have surgery.
"You can do it again but you only have a three per cent chance if you do it the surgery way or you can have it heal conservatively which increases your risk, so that is the reason I have opted for surgery both times," she said.
The goal defence knew straight away against the Pies she'd suffered a significant injury.
"I felt it rip the whole way through. Last time it happened I didn't realise what it was; I thought someone had kicked me," she said.
"It is not excruciatingly painful but just the shock of this time and the knowledge of what it was and what it meant was pretty shattering."
Meade, who works in Warrnambool, took six weeks off work the first time she did her achilles.
She is hoping to get back quicker this time if possible "for my own mental health".
"It's pretty tricky for me to work, especially when I am on crutches, because we're up and down, in and out, trying to show people exercises which is hard on one leg," she said.
"I'd love to get back earlier this time and maybe just see my rehab patients where we do a little bit more talking."
Port Fairy has endured two achilles injuries to open netballers in 2021.
Meade, who thanked the club for its support and for providing meals, joins Ally Feely on the sidelines.
"Ally injuring her achilles as well did kind of scare me a bit and I had lost a bit of confidence, just in my body and my fitness," she said.
"I'd literally said to (coach) Renae (Taylor) the day before how I'd been having those little fears but I'd trained for a 10-kilometre run for brain cancer and ran really well that week.
"I went into the game feeling confident for the first time for the season."
Port Fairy has a 2-7 win-loss record in open netball in season 2021.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.standard.net.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines and newsletters.
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Tap here to open our Google News page.
- Join our Courts and Crime Facebook group and our dedicated Sport Facebook group
- Subscribe
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.