IN October 2009, Maddison Smedts could barely walk.
Around the same time, she was advised to give up netball.
But about 18 months on, the determined teenager is preparing for her debut with the Victorian 19 and under team.
The former North Warrnambool Eagles netballer had two hip operations in three months in late 2009.
“Because I was playing so much sport, I started growing a bone (spur) and I was seizing up around my hip,” she said.
“I was struggling to walk two days before my operation.”
Smedts went under the knife for her left hip in October 2009 while two months later, she had her right hip operated on.
“I basically had a bit of bone cut out and smoothed over,” she said.
“My surgeon said to me that he didn’t think it was a good idea to play netball again.
“He said I should take up cycling or swimming.”
But neither of the sports appealed to her, so she persevered with netball.
It has led her to representing her state at the 2011 National Netball Championships, which begin in Queensland on Friday.
After taking about five months off at the end of 2009 and the start of last year to recover from her operations, Smedts is back into the full swing of netball without any hip troubles.
On top of her state commitments, she is a member of the Geelong Cougars side in the Victorian Netball League championship division on Wednesday nights, while on Saturdays she plays for Bell Park in Football and Netball Geelong.
The athletic 18-year-old features in the midcourt at either centre or wing defence.
“I was always goal defence or centre growing up but I guess once I got up to the big smoke I realised I’m not that tall,” she said.
“In Warrnambool I was pretty tall but up here, I’m one of the smaller ones.”
Smedts is from Cudgee but based in Geelong, like her twin brother Billie, who was drafted by the Cats last year.
The former Geelong Grammar student was pleased with how she trialled for the Victorian 19 and under side.
“I just tried not to think about (if I would be selected) too much though,” she said.
“I just wanted to go with whatever happened.
“I was pretty excited that I made it.”
Being her first national titles, she is unsure what to expect but has confidence in her side to perform.
“We’re a real tight-knight group off the court, which makes us a lot stronger on the court,” she said.
While Smedts’ ultimate goal is to play in the Trans-Tasman Championship, her immediate focus is to develop her game at the national titles.
