Hay's new perspective

By Sophie Taylor

With netball comes challenges, and ultimately some easier to encounter than others.

While physical injury is one thing, the mental load during, and following, recovery continues to be a key theme across Suncorp Super Netball.

For GIANTS midcourter Maddie Hay, it was an unexpected journey through hip surgery that proved her most challenging sporting experience so far.

Suffering ongoing hip pain during the 2023 SSN season, Hay was aware she would require some time away from the sport to get her body in order.

But nothing could have prepared her for the initial consultation, which shook her whole worldview.

“I was having issues with my hip all season and it was just declining and getting harder to manage,” Hay said.

“On advice I went to see a surgeon for a clean-up surgery, but when I saw that surgeon with the scans, he gave me some pretty heavy news.”

That news included a much more intense diagnosis and extensive recovery period than expected.

“He told me I would need a double hip surgery with a double hip replacement in the near future as well,” Hay said.

“I'd probably be at least 12 months out, in a wheelchair for eight weeks following surgery and then crutches learning to walk again.

“That was a real shock.”

Fortunately, a further referral to a specialist surgeon reduced the recommendations drastically, with Hay able to focus on a clearer view of her future in netball.

“I'd never had any long-term injuries, so it was definitely new territory for me,” Hay said.

“I didn't realise how much independence you lose.”

That lack of independence and physical exhaustion contributed significantly to the mental load.

Hay says speaking with a sports psychologist helped her significantly, helping to motivate when times were tough and to remind her what she was doing it all for.

“I wish I started seeing a sports psych earlier on,” Hay admits.

“That's something I would definitely recommend.

“She was extremely helpful, but I didn't start seeing her until a bit later when I was actually returning to netball.

“I really wish I started seeing her in those early days because I thought I was OK and I had all the support I needed but looking back I really could've done with her support earlier.”

While grappling with the mental load of her initial diagnosis, Hay touched on the timing of her consultations, which coincided with the sport’s contract negotiation period in late 2023.

“I was off contract, I was thinking I probably wouldn't get signed again, and I was catastrophising for sure in that moment,” Hay said.

“I wasn't sure if I'd have the support because if I wasn't signed again, how would I have access to rehab? All the stuff I needed, like a physio and doctors?”

A good support system helped Hay maintain calm during that period, though she does say she was “a little bit naïve to how bad it actually was”.

“I have a good support system so that was good, I could lean on them,” Hay said.

“But I think I did have faith I would be looked after, faith in the club and my friends and my family to look after me, which is very lucky.”

That support system helped the midcourter find the motivation to make her way back to the sport she loves, eventually making her return during the 2024 season.

Hay says the return was different compared to many peoples’ experiences of injury returns, with no one experience on court linked to her injury.  

“I was really lucky with the type of injury I had, that I didn't have a significant moment where I [got injured],” she said.

“Mine was just kind of a decline, so there were no fears of it hurting on the court, especially with how much preparation I did leading up to that game.

“I think my biggest stress was how was I going to survive 60 minutes of netball and getting through the game like that!”

Now back on court and midway through the 2025 season, Hay has put her hip issues behind her and has some advice for anyone else struggling with a return from injury.

“I would say focus on the near future,” Hay said.

“Don't worry about the end date, celebrate the little things.

“I was so hung up on ‘return dates’, it seems so silly now.

“Every little setback, I would think about how long that would add to my return-to-play plan.”

That self-doubt was always in the back of Hay’s mind, but the midcourter says a great wellness habit she fell into was finding joy in the little things.

“Find people that aren’t related to netball and surround yourself with people you find a lot of joy with,” she said.

“For me, it’s as simple as I love going out for breakfast and getting coffee with friends, that's something I look forward to.

“Having a little thing in your week each week, something to look forward to and you enjoy and involves other people you also love.”

Hay says getting through injury has helped her become a better teammate.

“I know now that injuries can be so isolating,” she said.

“It's made me more empathetic to people going through rehab and more conscious of what everyone on my team is going through and how they're feeling.”

HCF wants to inspire netball fans to feel strong and be their healthiest self. That's why we're sitting down with your favourite Super Netball players to talk about overcoming injury, navigating change, resilience and relationship building.

To see more articles and videos or get more information on women’s health topics, visit the HCF Strong Women Health Hub.