Mes ACL Injury

Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com

Nothing breaks my heart more than seeing a young player have a great season and then get struck down by an injury. Case in point - Bailey Mes for the Northern Mystics.

After have a fantastic finish to the Mystics season, leaving Silver Fern shooter Cat Latu on the bench, many tipped Bailey to follow up her shock inclusion in the national team last year after only 15 mins of ANZ action, with another selection and the possibility of gaining invaluable coaching from Australian sharp shooter turned Silver Fern assistant coach Vicki Wilson.

One game that stands out for me was the Mystics game against the table topping Adelaide Thunderbirds in round 13 where the visitors stunned the home team pushing out to an 5 goal lead at halftime. The circle movement and holding game that both Maria and Bailey showed created havoc for the Thunderbird defenders and at the end of the game Bailey finished with 38 of the Mystics 48 goals at a respectable 88% as well as 2 rebounds.

Unfortunately for Bailey in the Mystics last game of the season against the Magic, she has ruptured her ACL and will be out for the remainder of the netball season for 2013 including Constellation Cup and the Fast 5 series in November.

Like the rest of the netball community, I was looking forward to seeing the opportunities that Bailey could have been given at the international level this year, possibly as a potential back up to Irene Van Dyk.

Chin up Bays, work hard on the rehab and we all know you will be back with a bang next season!