Almost two years after mid-courter Tayla Honey signed with the Melbourne Vixens she finally made her much anticipated debut on the weekend after overcoming a ruptured Achilles tendon in last year’s preseason.
Honey, who signed with the Vixens in September 2018, suffered the injury at training in February 2019. Victorian Institute of Sport Physiotherapy Lead, Steve Hawkins said it was “devastating” news for someone who had just been signed with the main playing list to sustain such an injury. However, knew she would be in safe hands with the team that was behind her.
Aside from the surgery itself, the experts at the Victorian Institute of Sport handled and managed all of Honey’s rehabilitation.
Hawkins said that it was a real team effort to get her back on the court again. “It couldn’t have been possible without VIS Strength and Conditioning coach John Tascone’s expertise, the input from Performance Analyst Jamie Bahnisch, VIS Physiotherapist Ebonie Rio and of course Head Vixens Coach Simone McKinnis and Assistant Coach Sharelle McMahon.”
A ruptured Achilles tendon is just about as serious as an injury gets for explosive athletes like the netballers. Everyone involved knew that the recovery was going to take time and effort.
“To make it worse Tayla’s trademark, is her explosive speed and acceleration, which is one thing we knew would be the most impacted by the injury and take the longest time and most effort, on her part to regain.” Hawkins said.
Honey’s ability to set goals and “show up daily to carry out the work” is what really helped her on her long way back to netball.
Moments like these ✨ So nice for Tayla Honey to have her mum and Vixens assistant coach Di Honey by her side on debut ????
Amazing game Tay ???? what a day!#Vixens4Life pic.twitter.com/UONi42hzcp
— Melbourne Vixens (@MelbourneVixens) August 8, 2020
Strength and Conditioning coach, Tascone insisted that Honey is a very disciplined athlete and really “slogged” it out over the winter months when the other girls were on the court playing.
Tascone said that “she [Honey] was very diligent with her rehab and would’ve spent between 2 – 3 hours a day with Steve, myself and Jarrod (Strength and Conditioning Intern).”
Whilst Honey was extremely diligent with her rehab and training requirements, Hawkins said one of the main challenges was “managing her expectations.”
“Like most athletes faced with long term injury, she frequently asked how she was going ‘compared to normal’ and of course, we had to keep reminding her that with this type of injury, there is no normal.” Hawkins said.
Whilst it was such a “proud” moment for the whole support team to see her finally make her debut after all the work she’s put in, “this is just the beginning for Tayla.”
“She [Honey] will get satisfaction not from overcoming an Achilles rupture and returning to the court, but instead, by constantly re-setting her performance goals, and keep taking her game to the next level.” Hawkins said.
There is still a lot of work to be done and that’s the part that is so “exciting” for the whole support team.
“It’s not what she’s done, with our help; but rather what can she do, with more of our help, going forward.”
The undefeated Melbourne Vixens will take on the Sunshine Coast Lightning, Wednesday night at 7:30pm.
