Another Injury Adds To Campbell's Woes
Illawarra Mercury
Monday December 24, 2007
IF the Wollongong Hawks' financial crisis hadn't already left Mat Campbell at a crossroads, a chronic Achilles injury has become a more immediate threat to his career.
The Hawks captain broke down early in the third quarter of his team's 10-point loss to Townsville, limping to the bench on Saturday and never returning.Yesterday he refused to rule himself out for the season, even though he could do more damage if he plays on."It's pulled up sore this morning, but I'll ice it up like I usually do and I definitely haven't decided that I'm done for the season. Hopefully I'll be able to see it through to the end," Campbell said shortly before the Hawks left Townsville."It feels a bit different to before, almost like a different twinge, but I'll wait and see how it pulls up tomorrow. The next couple of days will tell me how bad it is."Campbell enjoyed a remarkable run during his first 12 years in the NBL, missing just three matches.But the Achilles injury sidelined him for seven games and he probably returned too early.He has soldiered through five games since coming back, but playing two matches in three days was always going to be a test."I've been training one day on, one day off and it's been manageable, but something was telling me I shouldn't have played (against Townsville)," he said."I felt good before we played New Zealand, probably as good as I've felt with the injury."I'd say the short turnaround between games and flying all day on Friday wouldn't have helped, but I didn't want to sit out the game."Campbell continues to hope that Hawks management will find a way to keep the NBL foundation club up and running.Whether he is fit enough to take on the Crocs on Friday, the former Australian Boomers guard called on the community to help save the Hawks by turning up to the WEC.Call the Hawks' office for tickets on 4229 7722, or Ticketek.
© 2007 Illawarra Mercury
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