Black injured not defeated

By Stephanie Smarrelli 
 

2025 has looked very different for Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Ava Black. 

Raring to go, the young gun was feeling confident heading into this year, healed from an ankle injury which prevented her from hitting her peak in 2024. 

But then it all came crashing down. 

While an ACL injury may seem like the end of the world to some, Black’s using her time away from the court to fuel another passion. 

With a magnetic personality, wealth of netball knowledge and love for media and marketing she’s stepped behind the microphone. 

“You learn so much about yourself when you have a big blowout injury,” Black said. 

“When you’re not on the court and netball isn’t your full focus, the next thing you’re passionate about steps in. 

“For me that was quite naturally media, and it was putting a plan into action and having the time to pursue it.” 

Black has started vodcasting alongside teammate Reilley Batcheldor, the two friends hosting Lightning’s Pass that Mic. 
 
“Roo and I have these unfiltered netty chats and unfiltered athlete chats all the time," she said. 

“When you’re grabbed post-match, you’re thinking how can I give a polished and professional answer but that’s not really an insight into who we are as people. 

“We wanted to show our casual side and invite guests from sports with different personalities to connect more and bring those personalities out. 

“We want to have those real raw, unfiltered and vulnerable chats we often shy away from with some funny content to get athletes’ stories across.” 

Black’s also put her hand up for commentary, working with Fox Sports to add her perspective to the game. 

“I enjoyed it immensely,” she said. 

“Down that media line is where I'd like to sit. 

“Whether I'm in front of the camera or working behind the camera for other people, I'd like to do that.” 

The thing Black loves most about being behind the mic is the ability to connect with others. 

“It was quite easy jumping behind a mic with people a lot like me, I love listening, I’m a bit of a people person,” she said. 

“I was always keen on having conversations it was just a matter of whether there was a camera recording or not.  

“The conversations are happening anyway so we may as well show the rest of the community and bring them in.” 

Reflecting on her season-ending injury, Black knew immediately what she’d done. 

“Everything was out of whack, a ball was placed away from my body not in the direction I was heading, and I instantly grabbed my leg,” she said. 

“The tears weren't from pain; it was shock knowing that’s 12 months. 

“I've watched a few of them, I could tell pretty clearly what it was.”  

Black was alongside Batcheldor when the goaler did her second ACL a few years ago which has been a blessing in disguise. 

Batcheldor is not only one of Black’s closest friends but the two live together. 

“It’s been unreal having Roo’s support,” she said. 

“That’s one of the sad things but it’s also a blessing at Lightning. 

“Roo’s done two, Tara’s done two, Mahalia’s done two and Shannon’s done two. 

“I’m surrounded by people who have walked through this experience not once, but twice and I can’t imagine doing this twice but they’re able to walk through every frustration with me.” 

The weeks immediately following the injury were difficult for Black. 

“I was really disappointed in myself,” she said. 

“I knew even at my age I’m still breaking into the SSN environment and all I wanted to do was put out my brand of netball.” 

The 22-year-old is still working through with Lightning whether she will be re-signed for next season. 

Black confessing it adds to the mental toll of her recovery.  

“The contracting period is very stressful for any young athlete,” she said. 

“During rehab you’re so focused on your knee and then you question am I going to be the same athlete? How am I going to come back? Am I going to move the same way?  

“You’re thinking about all those variables and then you start to wonder is someone going to believe in me enough to get me there and stay with me during that injury period? 

“As someone who isn’t a really experienced player who’s already built their name to a level people are automatically confident to stick with it's certainly hard.” 

Black has faith the Sunny Coast will stick with her. 

"I'm pretty confident the club is backing me in and they're willing to work with me through the injury to come out the other side,” she said.  

She's been regularly speaking with a sports psychologist at the club and a psychologist from the Australian Institue of Sport. 

Black has had access to them prior to doing her knee and they’ve become a big part of her support system. 

“I don’t go in because I'm at a breaking point and need help,” she said. 

“I'm always going to refine things, touch base and make sure I'm processing things before I'm in an absolute mental breakdown.” 

But the biggest support has been those she spends the most time with.  

“The most helpful has been speaking to my teammates who have hands on experience,” she said. 

“Watching how they’re playing, taking these big hits and getting up and going again and knowing they've done this twice. 

“They're not afraid to take a massive hit on court or in training, and that to me is better than any session I've done.” 

With hopes to be back for the start of the next SSN season, Black is starting to hit some big milestones in her recovery. 

“I can run now, so onwards and upwards to the conditioning sets,” she said. 
 
“They held me back a little bit because they knew once I started to run, I’d be gone.” 

Black remembers how she felt to be unleashed on the running track a few weeks ago. 

“It was just huge,” she said. 

“The smile on my face in the videos sum it up.” 

There was a surprise waiting for her when she stepped out at the track as well. 

“Everyone turned up, the whole office team too,” she said. 

“I felt very special.  

“I think about the other people who have done an ACL and don't get to have that whole support crew around them for those little milestones and I know how lucky I am to be in a professional environment.

“The support network is amazing, having access to the best resources and quality of people is unreal.” 

The season has been tricky for Black to watch from the sidelines. 

“I was dealing with that little bit of grief knowing that wasn’t going to be me out there for not just one game but the entire year,” she said. 

“Having done my ACL quite early in preseason I was mourning until the season actually kicked off. 

“By then I'd almost accepted I wasn’t going to be out there, but I was going to watch my best friends run out all together and wish I was with them.” 



Personal images supplied by Ava Black.