Sport
2 June, 2022
Injury and illness hurting Magpies
A Camperdown side struggling with illness and injury fell at home to Warrnambool 70-53 last weekend.
A Camperdown side struggling with illness and injury fell at home to Warrnambool 70-53 last weekend.
In addition to a number of players who are recovering from illness, the Magpies were without key player Lily Eldridge, who has been an integral member of the Camperdown defence over the last month.
To compound the side’s difficulties on Saturday, Magpie veteran defender Brooke Richardson, who had recovered from a minor ankle injury the week before, went off in the first quarter with a potentially more serious injury to her other ankle.
The injury to Richardson forced a quick on-court reshuffle, and Camperdown found it difficult to keep pace with the Blues’ scoring, trailing by 10 goals at quarter-time.
The Magpies got within seven goals through the second quarter, but the margin pushed out to double digits again by half-time.
Camperdown made changes during the half-time break, moving Sophie Conheady to centre and Chelsea Baker into wing attack, which opened up the court for the Magpies and allowed them to get within four goals.
But fatigue stymied the home side’s efforts in the last quarter, as Camperdown coach Leah Sinnott watched the game “unravel” for her players in the dying stages.
Laura Bourke was once again Camperdown’s best player, playing through the match in goal defence and doing her best to restrict star Warrnambool shooter Amy Wormald.
This week Camperdown host Hamilton, a young and unpredictable side who have played competitively through the season but have struggled for results.
Sinnott said her focus would be on her playing group and getting a workable line-up together.
“There’s a possibility Brooke’s unavailable due to her ankle, I know that Laura (Bourke) is going to be unavailable, and we’re not sure if Lily will get up,” she said.
“So we’re in a bit of a situation there. First of all, we’ll just focus on getting a solid team on the court.
“In terms of Hamilton, it’s very hard to get a read based off just results this season, so like every game we’ll go in knowing it’ll be a tough battle.”
