Long battle to get back nearly over for Haynes
Tiah Haynes gripped her right knee understanding something had gone wrong, but praying it wasn’t too serious.
As it turns out, the news was as bad as she feared.
Just six days after being selected by the Western Bulldogs with the first pick in the 2014 AFL women’s draft, the Coastal Titans midfielder had damaged both her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, requiring a knee reconstruction.
Making matters worse, the cruel blow happened on her 21st birthday.
Almost a year on, Haynes is in the final stages of her rehabilitation and more determined than ever to make her mark on a women’s football movement which is gathering steam at the most rapid pace in its history.
This year will see the Dogs and Melbourne face off in two AFL-sanctioned women’s games, up from the one game staged in each of the past two seasons.
The 2015 draft will kick off this afternoon, when the WA hopefuls gather in a room at Domain Stadium to see who fills the 34 spots available for the first game at the MCG on May 24.
Haynes will be in the room, but concedes says she’s not expecting to hear her name called out, having yet to play since the injury.
Instead, she’s aiming to return to the WAWFL next month, hopefully put her name forward to represent WA against Victoria at Domain Stadium on June 6, then nominate for the mid-season draft, which will have up to 12 players added to the Demons and Bulldogs squads for the second match, at Etihad Stadium on August 16.
“There’s some nerves that come in, I guess, when you think about it,” she said.
“People do ask you questions about how you think you’ll go and that’s the big test coming back from such a big injury.
“But it is exciting to know that I’m close to returning and hopefully will be back out there at my best.”
State women’s coach Michelle Cowan, who has also led Melbourne to two straight wins over the Dogs, said she had no doubt Haynes would be considered by both teams for this year’s fixtures.
“Getting drafted and then having that happen can be a major setback, but not for Tiah,” she said.
“It’s a credit to her how she’s handled it.”
