It’s been more than a month since Rachel Alonso last kicked a football in anger, and it’s been a disappointing and frustrating wait for all parties concerned.
The Bundoora striker had just hit a patch of good form when a cruel injury sustained against Bulleen in Round 3 sidelined her indefinitely.
“My right foot got caught in the ground and my hip went forward, it felt like I’d dislocated it but I actually tore the cartilage protecting my hip,” Alonso said.
“I’m like **** that ain’t good, I’ve done something seriously.
“I played the remainder of the game because the pain wasn’t as bad as when it happened, I guess it was because I was warm but the next day I was seeing stars.”
With fellow striker Caitlin Friend also sitting out through injury, Bundoora have been short on forward options of late.
“We probably are missing someone to hold up the ball but I think we’ve been able to find other options to score a goal,” Bundoora coach Mark Torcaso said.
“It’s a good thing having those extra options, but Rachel’s definitely been missed.”
The striker revealed that surgery was still a possibility, though it was very much a last resort that she wanted to avoid.
“I want to avoid surgery as much as possible because it’s three months recovery and I can’t run for six weeks after,” she said.
“So all up, it will have been five months without playing.
“If I get surgery, I’ll be out for the season.”
While contributing on the pitch is not an option at the moment, Alonso has been doing her best to support her team mates as they look to maintain their form near the top of the WPL table.
“I almost can’t watch, I get so worked up,” she said.
“I feel I could help out but I honestly want my team to do well regardless if I’m playing or not.”
Alonso had secured her first semi-professional contract with Melbourne Victory last year, before starting the new WPL season in hot form.
Three goals and six assists in three games promised much, before she was struck down with the unfortunate injury.
“[We’re missing] her good personality and presence even though she’s at every session anyway,” Torcaso said.
“She brings a lot of people into the game, so we’ve had to adjust to something different while not having her there [on the pitch].”