Bridget McAnanly enjoying first season back with Rutherglen after seven years

It's been close to seven years since the 26-year-old has stepped foot on a court after suffering a devastating ACL injury while playing for Rutherglen.

Having to have a full knee reconstruction, the injury not only impacted McAnanly's playing career, but her whole life.

"I had to stop working and I put on a lot of weight," she said.

"I was playing netball seven days a week and working before I did my knee, then everything just sort of stopped.

"Mentally it wasn't a great time for me, but it's nice to finally be back, healthy and playing again."

McAnanly has rejoined the Cats in the Tallangatta League this season after taking the time to rebuild herself physically and mentally.

"I've lost most of that weight, I've lost about 50 kilos," she said.

"Being able to play again, I'm not getting that anxiousness that I used to.

"It makes it a bit more special every time I go out on the court.

"The girls that I'm playing with are great. They've made the season even easier for me to be back with all of the nerves with my knee.

"I thought why not this season, it's the season to come back."

While she has now put that time of her life behind her, she admits it has made her more cautious.

"I am to a certain degree, but once I get past that white line I don't think about it," she said.

"I started playing when I was four, so it's bred into me to just play.

"My whole body isn't dealing with it as well as it used to, but it's just nice to be back to be honest."

The goal attack started in Wodonga Saints' under-15s before a stint at Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray League.

While seven years have passed since she's donned the Cats colours, McAnanly said there's still plenty of familiar faces around the competition.

"I walk on court and they say 'you're back!" she said.

ALSO IN SPORT:

"They all remember me, so that's really nice.

"My mum's family is from Rutherglen and I know a lot of people there, that's why I thought why not go back."

Rutherglen has won two of their 12 games so far this season.

Having a new playing group and battling the stop start nature of the season due to Covid, McAnanly said the team is still developing.

"There's a few new girls and young girls, which is nice to see the young ones still sticking around," she said.

"Every game is tough because we're still building as a team, but we're definitely taking steps every week.

"We're getting better as a group, not just on the court, but off too."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: