By Stephanie Smarrelli
It is easy to forget Liz Watson was sidelined for almost a year in 2021 because the seasoned midcourter doesn't look like she's missed a beat.
The Australian Diamonds captain required surgery on her navicular bone, forcing her to miss the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball season.
The biggest challenge she said, was simply missing out.
“I love training in teams and being around people. Rehab is very much by yourself doing lots of different sessions, doing things that are very slow and very repetitive because that's what you need to do to build up muscle or strengthen the bones," Watson said.
"For me, it was learning to be patient and learning to trust the process.
"I wanted to start running a lot sooner than I thought I'd be able to start running but you just need to trust the professionals and focus on getting better away from the team."
With a full season under her belt heading into the Commonwealth Games, Watson is primed and ready to go.
It's easy to forget Liz Watson missed an entire year.But despite being regarded as one of the best midcourters in the world, Watson confessed she still gets butterflies in her stomach on selection day.
“It’s a stressful day because you get your (call) time. I'm Watson. So, W's always at the very end of the list of calls," she explained.
"It is really nerve wracking, you kind of never know what the selectors are thinking or what they want to go ahead with.
"It's exciting when you get the call, it's great news, but you've still kind of got that butterfly feeling when you're waiting for it."
COUNTDOWN TO BIRMINGHAM
As the 25th National Captain, Watson has the honour of leading the Diamonds in the Commonwealth Games for the first time, having been part of the 2018 side who narrowly lost to England.
“I am really excited. I've had the experience of the last one and that very close loss. Even the World Cup gave me more experience as well in that tournament style of netball where we are playing all the time," she said.
"There's extra excitement of representing Team Australia because there's other sports happening.
"And I get to lead the team with Steph Wood which is very exciting."
For Watson, finding motivation to perform doesn't take much. One huge driver is knowing that she’s representing Australia.
“I want to play really well with my teammates and when you play your best is when you are bringing out the best in each other," she said.
"For me it's making my family, friends and myself and my country proud."
Liz Watson reflected on the heartbreak of the last World Cup and Commonwealth Games.Similar to many of her Diamonds teammates, the biggest life lesson Watson has taken from netball is to be confident, which is something she learned in childhood and has carried with her to today.
“Confidence is probably the biggest one, being able to trust the work that you've been able to do and know that you can perform. Once you've done that groundwork," she said.
"It teaches me to be organised and stay on top of things. There's been lots of little things, probably not one big thing that stands out, but it's probably that confidence piece is the biggest one for me from a little kid to now."
DIAMOND #129
When asked which former Diamond inspires her, Watson was quick to acknowledge Bianca Chatfield.
“Definitely Bianca Chatfield. I was very lucky to work with her at the Vixens. I don't think I appreciated how good she was at that time, even with the Diamonds," she said.
"What stands out for me was the Commonwealth Games in 2014, she was the vice-captain and wasn't really on court as much, but she had such a great presence and leadership, even though she was on the bench in that final.
Liz Watson said Bianca Chatfield really inspired her."That shows the type of person that she was. She's still someone I speak to regularly and we're great friends now. She's done so much for our sport, both away from the sport and on court,” Watson said.
INTO THE CLASSROOM
Outside of netball, Watson is following in the footsteps of her family who work in the education field.
“I am still studying my primary teaching degree so slowly getting that done but netball has taken up a lot of time this year, which is very exciting. I live at home with my partner, he's a teacher as well," she said.
"Mum and Dad are also in the education field. We're a really close family. We live around the corner from each other."
And the biggest juggling act for Watson, is something many can relate to.
"For me, it's just trying to balance study with sport," she said.
ABOUT LIZ
Name: Liz Watson
Nickname: Lizzy
Positions: WA/C
Game day breakfast: Poached eggs on toast with avocado and spinach + a coffee
Game day pump up song: Tell Me Something Good – Ewan McVicar
