Netball: McMahon gets serious injury

Sharelle McMahon of the Vixens is taken from the court. Photo / Getty Images

The playing future of Australian netball captain Sharelle McMahon is under threat, after the veteran sustained a serious achilles injury during the Melbourne Vixens' 10 goal loss to ANZ Championship leaders the Queensland Firebirds, in Melbourne.

McMahon, who'll turn 34 in August, will undergo scans on her left Achilles tendon on Friday, after the country's leading goal attack was carried from the court just minutes before the half-time break.

Vixens physiotherapist Steve Hawkins could not confirm the extent of damage immediately after the match.

"We have had two physios and two doctors look at it and everyone is of the same opinion, that we can't be definite at the moment," Hawkins said.

Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg admitted that if scans showed a rupture in the Achilles it would be difficult for McMahon to return to the highest levels of the game.

"But we don't know yet, we will just wait and see," Hoornweg said.

With the season condensed because of the world championships, the Vixens are in the middle of an intense stretch that sees them play three games in just eight days.

Hoornweg was critical of the fixture.

"That is hard, they are bruising encounters out there ... we can't ask these athletes to play that many games, you wouldn't ask elite footballers to front up and play three matches in eight days, so why would you ask (a netballer)?"

With netball's world championships to be held in Singapore in July, McMahon's injury is a massive blow to Australia's hopes of retaining the title.

McMahon is one of the greatest players in the history of Australian netball and her absence at the titles will be felt, assuming she is to miss the quadrennial event.

McMahon has captained Australia since 2008 and has been the co-captain of the Vixens since their inception in the ANZ Championships.

With just under three minutes left in the first half, McMahon appeared to be running to position at the top of the Vixens circle, when she fell to the ground clutching at the back of her left ankle.

She was immediately helped from the court by fellow Vixens co-captain Bianca Chatfield. She continued to receive treatment for the remainder of the match.

It was the second major injury in the match for the Vixens.

During the warm-up McMahon's usual replacement Tegan Caldwell injured her ankle and was forced to withdraw from the team.

For the victorious Firebirds, the 52-42 win is their eighth consecutive for the season and their fourth victory in a row away from home.

They finally return to Brisbane on Monday night for a much anticipated match against New Zealand's top team, the Magic.

"It was a tough win and we did it hard. The Vixens really took it right up to us and we had to work for every ball and every opportunity that we got," said Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke.

- AAP