Hockey star Aleesha Spyve switches to coaching after finger surgery
A cruel injury has robbed Rockhampton's Aleesha Spyve of playing in the national hockey championships in her hometown, but she's found a new way to help her team succeed.
A cruel injury has denied hockey player Aleesha Spyve the chance to represent Queensland Country on her home turf.
The talented striker should have been playing at the national championships, which start at Rockhampton’s Kalka Shades on Saturday.
Instead, she has joined the team’s coaching staff after breaking her finger in a club game three weeks ago.
The Souths’ A-grade stalwart was defending a short corner when the ball flew up and hit her right hand, dislocating and breaking her middle finger.
While doctors were able to correct the dislocation, it was a displaced fracture which meant surgery was required to insert a wire to stabilise the finger.
Spyve was told she would be sidelined for six weeks.
“The pain didn’t kick in straight away. It was the disappointment of not being able to play (for Queensland Country) that was definitely the first thing in my mind,” she said.
The 25-year-old was an integral part of the team that won gold and silver in its past two campaigns.
Spyve said while “pretty devastated” not to be playing, she was grateful to coach Hope Philip for asking her to come on as assistant coach.
Philip said Spyve had been a “major asset” for Queensland and her knowledge and experience would still serve the team well, albeit in a different role.
“I’m happy to still be involved with the team in what is hopefully a successful tournament,” Spyve said.
“We have, I think, eight new players in the team this year, however a lot of them have represented Queensland before so I think we’re looking good.
“I’ve coached a couple of junior and senior teams locally but never been involved at this level.
“It will be good just getting to see the other side of things at an event like this.
“I’m looking forward to working with Hope and our manager Lisa Morgan and learning things from them.”
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Spyve is scheduled to have the wire removed from her finger in late August but is unsure if she will be back for Souths this season.
“Once they take the splint off and the wire out, I’ll have a better idea of how much movement I have in my finger,” she said.
“I’ll be able to judge then whether I will be able to go back for finals.”
Originally published as Hockey star Aleesha Spyve switches to coaching after finger surgery
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