The Queensland Firebirds confirm Romelda Aiken-George will not take the court in 2022.
Despite every intention to play a key role for the Firebirds this season, the three-time championship star will enter maternity leave earlier than planned.
Aiken-George, who announced her pregnancy last month, was determined to help the team start the season, which would have also seen her reach her 200th game milestone.
The decorated goal shooter said after prioritising the health of her and her baby, she informed her teammates on the weekend that she would sit the 2022 season out.
“I wanted to make sure that I was making the right decision and at least try to see if my body was able to start back training and at least give it one last go.
“I think it’s going to be a big challenge, even though it’s hard sitting on the sideline I know the girls are more than capable of going out there and getting the job done.
“Growing a human is just one of the most amazing abilities or achievement a female can have and I’m really looking forward to becoming a mum.”
Queensland Firebirds head coach Megan Anderson confirmed the club left most of the decision making with the Jamaican-born shooter.
Anderson praised Aiken-George for both her determination to play and putting the team first when making the call to sit out the season.
“Romelda has been a mainstay of the team for so long now, so we wanted to afford her all the time she needed to decide when she was ready. She has earnt that respect,” she acknowledged.
“Romelda was keen to try to play this season but wasn’t sure she was going to be able to contribute 100% when she did hit the court.
“She was training so well in the early part of the year, but some extremely nasty morning sickness and Covid really set her back.
“She decided the best way forward was to look after herself and the baby and she wanted the team to have some certainty going into Round 1.”
The Firebirds coach spoke of Aiken-George being the club’s ‘11th player’ for 2022, with her set to still offer a valuable contribution from the sidelines.
“Didds (Romelda) will definitely be around, she has an amazing netball brain and the ability to read how people are feeling,” Anderson said.
“She’ll be helping in the coaching department keeping an eye on the shooters for me.”
Aiken-George admitted the decision was bittersweet, though is looking forward to playing a new role for the Firebirds in what is her 15th season with the club.
Despite her pregnancy, the star Firebird was quick to make her future intentions known.
“Just to make sure that the girls still follow the game plan and just feel 100% confident in the work that they’ve done during preseason and knowing that we are not asking them to fill anyone’s shoes, we just want them to go out there and perform their hardest and knowing that they’re writing their own stories,” Aiken-George said.
“It is very strange sitting on the sideline but of course I am doing something much more challenging, and I guess a little bit exciting, and nothing is going to change my love for playing netball and playing for the Firebirds.
“I look forward to being back on court next year.”
The club is set to announce its replacement player for Aiken-George in the coming days.
