Netball: Saving Grace for Mystics

Grace Rasmussen has re-signed for the Mystics. Photo / Natalie Slade

Grace will stay in place. Silver Fern Grace Rasmussen was linked with several other franchises but has re-signed with the Mystics for the 2012 ANZ Championship season.

There was significant interest from almost every other New Zealand franchise, with the Pulse, Magic and Steel all chasing her signature. Rasmussen held preliminary talks with those teams but was clear that she was always going to give the Mystics first option.

But she needed to wait to see what they could offer and it was a delicate balancing act for the franchise, given their plethora of stars and also young talent, notably Kayla Cullen, in line for substantial pay rises.

"My heart was always with them," says Rasmussen. "It was nice to be wanted by other franchises - especially given my injury - but I am born and bred here and I would live here forever if I could." Sister Rachel (27) has also re-signed, which Grace says was a huge factor in her eventual decision.

It has been a bitter-sweet year for Rasmussen; She toured England with the Ferns in January, then shone for the Mystics as they finally fulfilled their potential, but it all came to an end in April when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament in a late-season loss to the Swifts.

Rasmussen was one of just three Mystics players (along with Temepara George and Cathrine Latu) who had played every season since the start of the ANZ Championships - but missed their historic run to the grand final. It also ruled the 23-year-old out of the world championships, but Rasmussen has maintained a remarkably cool-headed perspective since the incident.

"I said at the time I think everything happens for a reason and I still believe that," says Rasmussen. "Though it has been bloody hard at times."

It was her first major injury, she had never even been to a hospital before and was "really, really nervous" heading in for the operation. There was a week on crutches after that and since then it has been a matter of phases, as she gradually regains strength. Family and friends have been a great source of support, though her partner drew the line at the suggestion that she could have a bell, to summon help, at her bedside.

She is up to six months away from being back on court, and still three to four months away from doing netball-specific training. At the moment Rasmussen spends up to three hours daily on rehabilitation, including stationary bike work, light activities in the gym and water walking in the pool.

Throughout the process the best advice and reassurance has come from those who have endured a similar ordeal.

"Kayla [Cullen] did her ACL a few years ago and look at her now," says Rasmussen of the highly promising youngster. "She even told me her [operated] left leg now feels stronger than her right."

Mystics outgoing assistant coach Jenny May Coffin endured the same operation and stressed the importance of doing all the small things during rehabilitation and not cutting any corners.

Rasmussen is targeting, albeit ambitiously, December's Fastnet Series, in England, and is also hopeful of making the Ferns cut for the January tour to Jamaica. Originally selected as a goal attack who could cover the wing for the Ferns, Rasmussen now seems an obvious contender for the WA bib at national level with the departure of Temepara George. She has honed her play on the wing in the ANZ Championship and the position is becoming more instinctive; plus nobody is going to dislodge current goal attack Maria Tutaia in a hurry.

"I feel more comfortable in the [WA] role now and people like Lyn Gunson [a specialist attack coach] at the Mystics have been a great help."

Closer to home, Rasmussen also looks forward to returning with the New Jaks, a club team comprised of her three sisters (Rhona [35], Rachel [27] and Annie [21]), as well as a cousin and niece, who play weekly in west Auckland. The family side also enters the indoor netball nationals in March each year (which attract hundreds of teams) and not surprisingly they tend to dominate.

"The first year [2010] we just rocked up and ended up winning the whole tournament," remembers Rasmussen. "I don't think the teams that play week in, week out were that happy about it."

This year, they made the competition's final, but lost by two goals, so Grace and Rachel hope to be back there in March 2012, Mystics commitments notwithstanding.

The Rasmussen dynasty will continue at the national championships. Rachel and Annie will represent Auckland Waitakere, while niece Nivique is in the under-19 side.