Hinchliffe eyes off Round 1

By Stephanie Smarrelli

If there's one player who has been dealt a number of curveballs it is Sunshine Coast Lightning defender Tara Hinchliffe.

“I was thrown back into rehab club after I felt like I just graduated,” she said.

Hinchliffe had just returned to the court after an ACL rupture which included a debut in the green and gold.

But at the 2023 pre-season Team Girls Cup tournament, Hinchliffe felt a "pop” and she knew something wasn't right.

“I felt the same pop similar to what I felt the first time but at the same time, it felt very different, I wasn't sure,” she said.

Despite having ruptured her ACL less than two years prior, Hinchliffe wasn't sure that she had done it again. And initially cleared by the physio she thought she’d avoided serious injury. 

“I remember sitting on the bench looking for mum and dad, I could tell they were stressed so I gave them a thumbs up ‘we're sweet, we're fine’… deep down I felt like something was wrong but at the time I was trying to think positively," she said.

Her knee was swollen straight away so the defender didn’t train for a couple weeks waiting to see how it went, hopeful she’d be able to play Round 1 of 2023.

“I did a couple of runs and was trying to prove to everyone it was fine, but it wasn’t. If they had cleared me, I would’ve tried to play Round 1 but I'm glad I didn't,” she said.

Unlike the diagnosis of her first ACL, the second one took longer and the surgery was more intensive. 

“It was a much bigger surgery, we tried a few things to make it more bulletproof,” Hinchliffe said.

Having been there before she knew there would be a long road to recovery.

“I knew it was going be a full 12-month process. The first six months was pretty good, then a bit rocky for a little bit. It was more of a grind getting used to how my new knee feels and learning to trust it,” she said.

Comparing the two injuries Hinchliffe said this time was harder for herself and her family having already gone through the emotional rollercoaster.

“The first ACL I took it as a challenge and wasn't super upset but this time it was harder for my family and everyone to go on that ride again. I think we'd all probably thought we'd dodged that bullet and moved on,” she said. 

Asked about her Origin Diamonds debut and how it felt knowing she’d reached a goal and been set back again, Hinchliffe was nonchalant.

“It’s the highs and lows of sport. The Diamonds debut and year of netball I managed to put together the year prior, I was really proud of and didn't expect the Diamonds debut at all but it was a nice way to use that as the end of a chapter and to move on from that first ACL, but doing it again coming off that high has definitely made it harder,” she said.

Hinchliffe was not alone in her journey though, with her Sunshine Coast Lightning teammates and club supporting her every step of the way, while teammate Reilley Batcheldor and replacement player Shannon Eagland were also going through ACL recovery at the same time.

“The three of us there all the time made it easier to support each other and ride the highs and lows but it did sometimes make it harder; if you're having a tough week and someone else is having a great week, it's hard to not compare yourself and feel like you're going backwards while they're going forwards,” Hinchliffe said.

“But also that's what team sports is about and that's why I love it. It's good to be able to share both and celebrate each other’s wins while being there also when each other is struggling.”

Hinchliffe’s connection with Batcheldor in particular helped spur on her own recovery and being back on court with her is what she’s looking forward to most this year.

“When Roo was struggling a bit, we just kept imagining Round 1 of 2024, hoping we both get to go out, run out there together and celebrate each other,” she said.

“I have such confidence in Roo, seeing her recovery gives me confidence that I can still go and play a game of netball and not think about my knee.”

Whether or not Hinchliffe will make her return in Round 1 remains to be seen with the defender still too far out to make a definite call.

“The last couple months have been exciting, getting back on court and pretty much training fully with the girls,” she said.

“The plan is to try and get back for Round 1 but we're going through those end stages, getting the last bits of testing done that I need to pass and hopefully get a practice game in.”