6 days ago
'More to the game': outpouring of support drives devastated Azzurri captain
Jayna Fraser has been drawing strength from an outpouring of community support after being devastated by season-ending injuries in the Northern NSW Football Women's State Cup final at Speers Point on Sunday night.
The American, who is Charlestown Azzurri's NPL Women's first-grade captain, was making a tackle when she sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), torn medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), patella displacement, and severe bone bruising in her right knee.
"I really went for it, I guess," Fraser, who is trying to stay optimistic, said.
"It was just the way that I turned. There was an instant pop and my whole leg just went weak. The first thought was, I knew I did damage."
Fraser lay on the field in agony for almost two hours waiting for an ambulance before a decision was made the transport the 23-year-old attacking midfielder to Lake Macquarie Private Hospital for treatment and assessment.
"We felt like that was going to be able to get me in quickest based on the pain that I was in; I was not well," she said.
"They were wonderful. They got me in right away. We got there probably about 9pm and with medication, X-ray, equipment, spoke to two doctors, we were out of hospital by 10.30.
"I had an MRI and referral already booked with results by the next day, so everything was done within 48 hours."
Fraser, whose partner Keiran Hayes plays for Azzurri's men's team and is in Australia on a bridging visa towards permanent residency, now faces surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The 23-year-old will need surgery and is unable to work at her job in aged care for the foreseeable future.
Azzurri teammate Madi Gallegos has set up a GoFundMe page to support their fearless leaders' medical costs on the road to recovery.
Nearly $9000 has already been raised.
"I'm OK," Fraser said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day, and I'm blessed that I have so many people who are helping me, which is just wonderful.
"The support and love that I've received, not only from this community but the soccer community, I know there are so many people out there who have my back, and I'm feeling the love.
"I've had a message from at least a player in every club in this league. It goes to show there's much more to the game, which I appreciate, and it actually is pushing me every single day and it's making me excited to see where I come out at the end of this new journey."
READ MORE:
It is a huge blow for the defending champions, who are in a two-way tussle with Maitland for the premiership as the competition approaches its pointy end.
On Sunday, second-placed Azzurri host last-placed Broadmeadow at Lisle Carr Oval (4pm).
Leaders Maitland were away to fifth-placed Adamstown on Friday night.
Lake Macquarie look set to unleash A-League strike weapon Lara Gooch against New Lambton at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday (5pm).
The fourth-placed Golden Eagles (23 points) can climb ahead of third-placed Newcastle Olympic (24), who have the bye, with a win.
In NPL Men on Saturday, Azzurri host Cooks Hill (2pm), Lambton are home to Valentine (2pm) and New Lambton travel to Belmont Swansea (2.30pm).
On Sunday, Adamstown are away to Weston (2pm), Olympic play Edgeworth at Darling Street Oval (2pm) and Magic battle Maitland at Magic Park (4.30pm).
Jayna Fraser has been drawing strength from an outpouring of community support after being devastated by season-ending injuries in the Northern NSW Football Women's State Cup final at Speers Point on Sunday night.
The American, who is Charlestown Azzurri's NPL Women's first-grade captain, was making a tackle when she sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), torn medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), patella displacement, and severe bone bruising in her right knee.
"I really went for it, I guess," Fraser, who is trying to stay optimistic, said.
"It was just the way that I turned. There was an instant pop and my whole leg just went weak. The first thought was, I knew I did damage."
Fraser lay on the field in agony for almost two hours waiting for an ambulance before a decision was made the transport the 23-year-old attacking midfielder to Lake Macquarie Private Hospital for treatment and assessment.
"We felt like that was going to be able to get me in quickest based on the pain that I was in; I was not well," she said.
"They were wonderful. They got me in right away. We got there probably about 9pm and with medication, X-ray, equipment, spoke to two doctors, we were out of hospital by 10.30.
"I had an MRI and referral already booked with results by the next day, so everything was done within 48 hours."
Fraser, whose partner Keiran Hayes plays for Azzurri's men's team and is in Australia on a bridging visa towards permanent residency, now faces surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The 23-year-old will need surgery and is unable to work at her job in aged care for the foreseeable future.
Azzurri teammate Madi Gallegos has set up a GoFundMe page to support their fearless leaders' medical costs on the road to recovery.
Nearly $9000 has already been raised.
"I'm OK," Fraser said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day, and I'm blessed that I have so many people who are helping me, which is just wonderful.
"The support and love that I've received, not only from this community but the soccer community, I know there are so many people out there who have my back, and I'm feeling the love.
"I've had a message from at least a player in every club in this league. It goes to show there's much more to the game, which I appreciate, and it actually is pushing me every single day and it's making me excited to see where I come out at the end of this new journey."
READ MORE:
It is a huge blow for the defending champions, who are in a two-way tussle with Maitland for the premiership as the competition approaches its pointy end.
On Sunday, second-placed Azzurri host last-placed Broadmeadow at Lisle Carr Oval (4pm).
Leaders Maitland were away to fifth-placed Adamstown on Friday night.
Lake Macquarie look set to unleash A-League strike weapon Lara Gooch against New Lambton at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday (5pm).
The fourth-placed Golden Eagles (23 points) can climb ahead of third-placed Newcastle Olympic (24), who have the bye, with a win.
In NPL Men on Saturday, Azzurri host Cooks Hill (2pm), Lambton are home to Valentine (2pm) and New Lambton travel to Belmont Swansea (2.30pm).
On Sunday, Adamstown are away to Weston (2pm), Olympic play Edgeworth at Darling Street Oval (2pm) and Magic battle Maitland at Magic Park (4.30pm).
Jayna Fraser has been drawing strength from an outpouring of community support after being devastated by season-ending injuries in the Northern NSW Football Women's State Cup final at Speers Point on Sunday night.
The American, who is Charlestown Azzurri's NPL Women's first-grade captain, was making a tackle when she sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), torn medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), patella displacement, and severe bone bruising in her right knee.
"I really went for it, I guess," Fraser, who is trying to stay optimistic, said.
"It was just the way that I turned. There was an instant pop and my whole leg just went weak. The first thought was, I knew I did damage."
Fraser lay on the field in agony for almost two hours waiting for an ambulance before a decision was made the transport the 23-year-old attacking midfielder to Lake Macquarie Private Hospital for treatment and assessment.
"We felt like that was going to be able to get me in quickest based on the pain that I was in; I was not well," she said.
"They were wonderful. They got me in right away. We got there probably about 9pm and with medication, X-ray, equipment, spoke to two doctors, we were out of hospital by 10.30.
"I had an MRI and referral already booked with results by the next day, so everything was done within 48 hours."
Fraser, whose partner Keiran Hayes plays for Azzurri's men's team and is in Australia on a bridging visa towards permanent residency, now faces surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The 23-year-old will need surgery and is unable to work at her job in aged care for the foreseeable future.
Azzurri teammate Madi Gallegos has set up a GoFundMe page to support their fearless leaders' medical costs on the road to recovery.
Nearly $9000 has already been raised.
"I'm OK," Fraser said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day, and I'm blessed that I have so many people who are helping me, which is just wonderful.
"The support and love that I've received, not only from this community but the soccer community, I know there are so many people out there who have my back, and I'm feeling the love.
"I've had a message from at least a player in every club in this league. It goes to show there's much more to the game, which I appreciate, and it actually is pushing me every single day and it's making me excited to see where I come out at the end of this new journey."
READ MORE:
It is a huge blow for the defending champions, who are in a two-way tussle with Maitland for the premiership as the competition approaches its pointy end.
On Sunday, second-placed Azzurri host last-placed Broadmeadow at Lisle Carr Oval (4pm).
Leaders Maitland were away to fifth-placed Adamstown on Friday night.
Lake Macquarie look set to unleash A-League strike weapon Lara Gooch against New Lambton at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday (5pm).
The fourth-placed Golden Eagles (23 points) can climb ahead of third-placed Newcastle Olympic (24), who have the bye, with a win.
In NPL Men on Saturday, Azzurri host Cooks Hill (2pm), Lambton are home to Valentine (2pm) and New Lambton travel to Belmont Swansea (2.30pm).
On Sunday, Adamstown are away to Weston (2pm), Olympic play Edgeworth at Darling Street Oval (2pm) and Magic battle Maitland at Magic Park (4.30pm).
Jayna Fraser has been drawing strength from an outpouring of community support after being devastated by season-ending injuries in the Northern NSW Football Women's State Cup final at Speers Point on Sunday night.
The American, who is Charlestown Azzurri's NPL Women's first-grade captain, was making a tackle when she sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), torn medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), patella displacement, and severe bone bruising in her right knee.
"I really went for it, I guess," Fraser, who is trying to stay optimistic, said.
"It was just the way that I turned. There was an instant pop and my whole leg just went weak. The first thought was, I knew I did damage."
Fraser lay on the field in agony for almost two hours waiting for an ambulance before a decision was made the transport the 23-year-old attacking midfielder to Lake Macquarie Private Hospital for treatment and assessment.
"We felt like that was going to be able to get me in quickest based on the pain that I was in; I was not well," she said.
"They were wonderful. They got me in right away. We got there probably about 9pm and with medication, X-ray, equipment, spoke to two doctors, we were out of hospital by 10.30.
"I had an MRI and referral already booked with results by the next day, so everything was done within 48 hours."
Fraser, whose partner Keiran Hayes plays for Azzurri's men's team and is in Australia on a bridging visa towards permanent residency, now faces surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process.
The 23-year-old will need surgery and is unable to work at her job in aged care for the foreseeable future.
Azzurri teammate Madi Gallegos has set up a GoFundMe page to support their fearless leaders' medical costs on the road to recovery.
Nearly $9000 has already been raised.
"I'm OK," Fraser said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day, and I'm blessed that I have so many people who are helping me, which is just wonderful.
"The support and love that I've received, not only from this community but the soccer community, I know there are so many people out there who have my back, and I'm feeling the love.
"I've had a message from at least a player in every club in this league. It goes to show there's much more to the game, which I appreciate, and it actually is pushing me every single day and it's making me excited to see where I come out at the end of this new journey."
READ MORE:
It is a huge blow for the defending champions, who are in a two-way tussle with Maitland for the premiership as the competition approaches its pointy end.
On Sunday, second-placed Azzurri host last-placed Broadmeadow at Lisle Carr Oval (4pm).
Leaders Maitland were away to fifth-placed Adamstown on Friday night.
Lake Macquarie look set to unleash A-League strike weapon Lara Gooch against New Lambton at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday (5pm).
The fourth-placed Golden Eagles (23 points) can climb ahead of third-placed Newcastle Olympic (24), who have the bye, with a win.
In NPL Men on Saturday, Azzurri host Cooks Hill (2pm), Lambton are home to Valentine (2pm) and New Lambton travel to Belmont Swansea (2.30pm).
On Sunday, Adamstown are away to Weston (2pm), Olympic play Edgeworth at Darling Street Oval (2pm) and Magic battle Maitland at Magic Park (4.30pm).
