Panmure midcourter Stacy Dunkley is shocked she's torn her left achilles after a career where she's been lucky to never have any netball-related injuries.
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"I'm in shock, I just can't believe it's happened to me," she said.
Dunkley, who has been playing the sport since she was about six years old, had never missed a game through a netball injury.
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The former Bulldogs coach went down in the final 10 seconds of the second quarter in the team's 62-16 win against Warrnambool and District league rival Russells Creek on Saturday.
"Basically I was dodging and as I took off I heard a massive balloon pop and then I went down like a sack of potatoes in pain," she said.
"And I looked around and I said 'did anyone just kick me?'.
"And then the netball players around me said 'no'.
"And then I knew it was pretty serious."
She was helped from the court and was later picked up by an ambulance and taken to Warrnambool Base Hospital.
She left hospital with a cast and will get an ultrasound and see the orthopaedic team on Monday.
"And then hopefully when I see the orthopaedic team we can book a date in for surgery," she said.
While she's remaining upbeat, it's a blow for a player that just loves the game.
"I'm just so sad and angry that it's happened and I love my netty," she said.
Dunkley said the Bulldogs' season was going really well and she and her teammates were pumped about where the group was headed.
She gave a big thank you to the Terang Ambulance crew and the doctors and nurses at the base hospital.
She was grateful to the Bulldogs' community which supported her and waited with her for the ambulance.
The injured star gave special mention to her own A grade side and Russells Creek - her former club - for the compassion and support they showed.
She gave a shoutout to her family who offered great support on Saturday.
Many family members were watching the match as it was her sister's birthday.
Dunkley looks forward to getting around her teammates at training and on game day.
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Brian Allen
Passionate about covering all sports from Ultimate Frisbee through to the latest footy and netball updates. Started at The Examiner in January 2022. Was part of the Warrnambool Standard's sports team which won the 2019 AFL Victoria Best Print/Online coverage for a daily newspaper. Got a story? Email: brian.allen@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Passionate about covering all sports from Ultimate Frisbee through to the latest footy and netball updates. Started at The Examiner in January 2022. Was part of the Warrnambool Standard's sports team which won the 2019 AFL Victoria Best Print/Online coverage for a daily newspaper. Got a story? Email: brian.allen@austcommunitymedia.com.au
