That moment a coach's season 'flashes before your eyes'
"I know at that moment you just want to crumble in a heap like her and think, ‘Oh no, that’s our season flash before our eyes’."
Southern Steel coach Reinga Bloxham says there was a moment in its preseason showdown against NSW Swifts that provided one of the biggest mental tests of her coaching career.
Star shooter George Fisher went down in the third quarter of the February 5 game with a knee injury. It was obvious for all to see it was serious.
Much of Bloxham’s off-season planning had been based around the superb English shooter.
You wouldn’t be human if you could simply swat it off like an annoying fly and just keep walking forward.
Although Bloxham made her best attempt at trying to do just that.
“When I think back to that moment when she hurt herself, you have to be a little bit hard.
“I had to regather the girls and say, ‘right, it’s actually our job to finish off this game'. You’ve got to pull your head in and get through this. And then you can feel it afterwards’.
“I kind of feel a bit of the same myself. I know at that moment you just want to crumble in a heap like her and think, ‘Oh no, that’s our season flash before our eyes’.
“But actually, it’s more about what I’ve got underneath that. What steps have I built and have I got enough under her to hold us up and keep us going.
“When I stepped off and had a moment to think about it and reflected with Jo [Morrison], that was probably a position I hadn’t been in before. But I felt quite comfortable with where we were at.”
Bloxham and assistant coach Morrison quickly scoured “the earth” for potential replacements, even before Fisher’s official diagnosis had come through.
They were pretty much certain her 2023 season was done.
The chances of picking up an international replacement so close to the season, and with the Australian competition also looming, was slim.
Bloxham tries to make sure she has a handle on who is out there in different positions in case something was to happen.
She was already aware Auckland-based Eseta Autagavaia was probably the next-best shooting option in New Zealand.
They called Autagavaia in to play in the preseason hit out in Otaki as a type of “try before you buy” arrangement.
Bloxham wanted to make sure she was a fit for the Steel environment.
Autagavaia ticked those boxes and on Friday she was confirmed as Fisher’s replacement for the 2023 ANZ Premiership season.
The 26-year-old police officer is eager to make the most of the unexpected opportunity.
“I’m super excited to be on board with the Steel. They've always been a team known for their grit, hard-working 'never-say-never' attitude and how loyal and proud their fans are. Being part of that is going to be a huge privilege,” she said.
“I’m really looking forward to exploring the unreal scenes of the deep South. I hear it's very picturesque and beautiful. It’s going to be a huge contrast from the big smoke up here but I'm looking forward to the change of pace.”
Autagavaia, who was initially contracted to the Robinhood Stars as a training partner this season, is no stranger to answering an SOS call. Last year she made her ANZP debut for the Stars against the Trident Homes Tactix before heading south to the Splice Construction Magic for the last eight games of the season.
She has been a regular campaigner in the National Netball League environment for the past five years and represented Samoa at the 2019 Netball World Cup.
“Otaki was a blast and a real tease for what's to come of the season and I couldn't be more excited to explore and grow on the connections I have with the girls, especially with Georgia, Saviour and Jess in the circle,” Autagavaia said.
“Their confidence to go to post and feed any ball brings a lot to my game and I can't wait to run out with them.
“I’m hoping to bring my calm and collected presence on court as I continue to build on my game especially at this level. I want to contribute towards maximising the potential the Steel has to take out the ANZ Premiership.”