The Queensland Firebirds will be without midcourter Macy Gardner for up to six weeks after confirmation she suffered a broken wrist against the Melbourne Vixens on Saturday.
Remarkably, Gardner ended up playing six minutes with the injury as she bravely opted to return in the final quarter of the clash at John Cain Arena.
It was early in the third term that Gardner was met in a strong front-on challenge by Vixens goal keeper Olivia Lewis outside the circle and landed awkwardly on her wrist.
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“Well that one was late. And Gardner is showing some real distress here,” commentator Sue Gaudion said at the time.
“She looks very, very uncomfortable.
“Lewis had been out hunting. That one again was a little awkward on timing.
“Unfortunately the timing sends Gardner to the bench.”
Gardner bravely returned to start the fourth quarter after being assessed but lasted only six minutes before another strong collision, this time attempting to defend on the circle edge, saw her leave the court in pain once again.
“You can see it’s heavily strapped,” Gaudion said of Gardner’s wrist.
“You can see her wrist is quite painful – hopefully things aren’t too bad.
“Very rarely do you see a player turn to the umpire and say ‘I’ve got to come off’.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the club confirmed scans showed a fracture in Gardner’s wrist that would keep her sidelined.
“Gardner sustained a wrist injury after a heavy fall in the third quarter of the match, with scans on Tuesday revealing a fracture to her right wrist,” the Firebirds said.
“Gardner is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks.
“She will be working hard to ensure her rehabilitation is brief and she is able to return to the court as soon as possible.
“The news is a setback for Gardner and the Firebirds after impressive displays in the past fortnight.”
A replacement player is expected to be announced in the coming days ahead of Queensland’s clash with Collingwood on Saturday.
Firebirds training partners Hulita Veve and Leesa Mi Mi remain the favourites to replace Gardner in the midcourt for the next game.
