It would have taken a broken leg for City West Falcons co-captain Maggie Lind to have missed the Victorian Netball League grand final on Wednesday night.
A stalwart of the Falcons and the VNL competition, Lind has battled her way through lower leg injuries for the last part of the season.
She looked done after her side’s shock semi final loss to the Hawks a couple of weeks ago before playing all 60 minutes in the preliminary final.
Lind backed it up with another 60 minutes in the grand final to help her side come from nine goals down to win, 60-58.
“It was very ugly and it was probably the worst game of the year,” Lind said postgame.
“We got the win, so that was good. “It will sink in later.”
Lind admitted her calves weren’t in a great way after the game.
Privately, her mum and coach Marg Lind, had said for a number of weeks they weren’t sure how she would get up each week.
They had adjusted the way they played to allow Maggie to get the most out of herself.
“They are pretty f***ed,” Maggie said of her legs. “I think both my calves are off the bone at this stage
“Definitely the last six weeks, it has been pretty tricky. We were hoping to go straight through so I could have a week off, it didn’t happen.
“I was on a pretty strict routine and I’m pretty heavily strapped at the moment. It has been really tough.
“I said last week that if they fall off the bone, who cares, I’ve got six months to recover.”
Lind said in hindsight she probably shouldn’t have played the Hawks in the semi final.
Her determination though saw her get up each week to at least give it her best shot.
“I was brought up pretty tough, it would take a lot for me to not be out there, especially in a grand final,” she said.
“There was no chance that I wasn’t playing in a grand final
“I would have to have a broken leg, It was never had doubt that I wouldn’t get up to play.”
Lind said despite being nine goals down in the second quarter, she always had faith in their playing group.
She said she never panicked when they were on court.
“Even when we were playing terribly, we’ve got a lot grunt in this group and we don’t give up which is one of our strengths,” she said.
“This year has been a bit tricky. We haven’t really been pushed that much, which I think is a negative going into finals.
“Losing the final was good for us and it made us bounce back.
“Nine down, you do go holy s***, but it’s a long game.”
The championship is the Falcons fourth in a row, with Lind having played in all of them.
Montana Holmes, Lucia Fauonuku and Jane Cook have also been part of all four.
Lind said they were all special.
“All different, this one is good, but nothing beats the one against Geelong when we eight games in a row after we’d had a pretty poor season.
“We have a target on our back every week, we love the pressure, every win as good as the last.”
Lind said despite her injury concerns she’s keen to continue on next season.
“Definitely, nothing better to do,” she said. “As long as my calves hold up.”
