Netball diary: Scholtz faces long road back to fitness

Kate Beveridge was one of the four Thunderbirds who took off for an unapproved break. Photo / Getty Images

The Magic on Wednesday confirmed what was already written all over the face of import Peta Scholz as she fell clutching her knee in last weekend's win over the Pulse in Rotorua.

Scholz has been ruled out for the season after scans revealed she has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and will require a knee reconstruction.

It is likely she has also suffered a partial tear to the medial ligament as well as cartilage damage.

It's a devastating blow for Scholz. But the former Australian international plans to remain in Mount Maunganui for the rest of the season, and is aiming to be back in Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic colours in 2011.

But she faces a huge battle to regain her fitness in time for next season's summer start date. The condensed 2011 season will likely start in mid-February as organisers try to accomodate for a sufficient lead-in time for next year's World Champs.

The loss of Scholz threatens to derail the Magic's title chances, unless the Waikato side can come up with a suitable replacement. For now, Magic coach Noeline Taurua has been looking at her options from within the squad but hasn't ruled out drafting in a replacement player. Taurua is keen to see how her options pan out in tomorrow's match in Hamilton against the Canterbury Tactix.

Thunderbirds in Bali

A storm is brewing across the Tasman after this week's extraordinary revelation that four senior members of the Adelaide Thunderbirds side took off to Bali during the team's bye week.

Mo'onia Gerrard, Geva Mentor, Kate Beveridge and Georgia Beaton travelled to the Indonesian party destination after their side's round-six win over the West Coast Fever in Perth.

Thunderbirds management knew nothing of the jaunt until the day before their round eight capitulation against the NSW Swifts. It appears the foursome deliberately deceived team management, suggesting they were staying on in Perth for a few days.

Not surprisingly, Thunderbirds' chief executive Stephanie Greene has taken a dim view of the situation. Greene told an Adelaide newspaper she was "absolutely appalled" by the players' decision making.

"I am highly offended by the level of deception to mislead the management of the team," she said. "The board has been advised and this will be dealt with in the highest regard - this is how serious we view their conduct."

While it is obviously an embarrassing situation for the club, in a sport where so often incidents like this are swept under the carpet, it is pleasing to see the Thunderbirds management are dealing with it openly.

Having spoken to a number of former coaches and players back here about the incident, there seems to be a number who consider it to be no big deal. But I think it is this sort of attitude that puts the sport back five years. Can you imagine the consequences if the same thing happened in a rugby or league? It would be front-page newspaper fodder for days.

If netballers want to be taken seriously as professsional athletes they need to behave accordingly. It is little wonder why the "girls just want to have fun" image still plagues the sport even in the professional era.

Trouble at Vixens

The Thunderbirds aren't the only Aussie team in turmoil at the moment - life isn't entirely rosy in the Melbourne Vixens camp either. The trouble stems back to round six when Vixens shooter Caitlin Thwaites was stood down against the Queensland Firebirds for disciplinary reasons. It is thought Thwaites did not meet the team's fitness standards.

The senior players in the team were consulted on the appropriate course of action, but not all agreed. It is believed co-captain Sharelle McMahon thought standing Thwaites down for a game was too harsh a penalty, while another piped up and said the 1.88m shooter should be taught a lesson.

The defending champions went on to be demolished by the Firebirds, and they have since lost another two matches against the NSW Swifts and West Coast Fever - with Thwaites looking down on confidence since her return. A fair few in the Vixens camp are now playing the blame game.

Battle of the battleaxes

Fancy morning tea with a couple of coaching legends? Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering is hosting an event with Australian coach Norma Plummer before the Mystics v Swifts game in Auckland at the end of the month.

The pair will each talk about their journey throught the sport and their coaching philosophies, before going head-to-head in a formal debate.

It all goes down at the Hobsonville Motor Inn from 10.30am-12.30pm on Sunday May 29. Tickets are $45 available from iTicket.