Dedicated junior netballer Maddison Harding will play her 80th game on Saturday. The 13-year-old has been living with a mystery heart condition. Photo: Supplied.
At just 13 years of age, Maddison Harding is set to play her 80th game for Jindera Netball Club this Saturday (30 August).
That’s not a bad milestone for any young athlete but her dedication to the sport doesn’t stop there.
Before she heads out each Saturday in her Jindera colours for the Hume League games, you’ll find Maddison on court at the Albury Indoor Netball Association competition captaining the reigning premiership Power team.
In her “spare” time, the Trinity Anglican College student also plays at representative level for the Albury Netball Association and frequently represents her school in not only netball but athletics and AFL.
With a string of Best and Fairest, Players’ Player and Best on Court accolades under her belt, Maddison is known for her leadership, work ethic and sportsmanship on and off the court.
But what makes these achievements even more remarkable is that Maddison has doggedly chased her netball dreams while living with an undiagnosed heart condition.
It started a couple of years ago with the odd fainting spell here and there but “we didn’t think much of it” and it seemed to subside, according to Maddison.
Earlier this year, the fainting episodes started occurring more frequently and oddly often after lying down.
“It’s like my vision goes blurry, I can’t think and I can feel my head swinging around,” Maddison says.
Mum Nic Harding took her daughter to the GP in May, who noted an increased heart rate and low blood pressure and referred Maddison to a specialist paediatric cardiologist in Melbourne.
“We are heading there in November for further assessment and a formal diagnosis,” Nic explains.
“So for now we are just playing the management game, along with a lot of supervision by a worried mum. We have a safety plan in place with the doctor where Maddison has to get herself to the ground when she feels that light-headed sensation coming on.”
Incredibly, these episodes have never occurred on the netball court.
“I think I’ve just pushed through it,” Maddison says. “I’m happiest when I’m on the court – netball makes me feel better.”
With her favourite positions in defence (as a goal keeper, goal defence or wing defence) or as a centre, Maddison describes herself as an “aggressive” player, refusing to let the potential physical impacts of her condition define her.
Power coach Nikkita Schneider (who also happens to be the wife of Lavington Panthers football coach Adam Schneider) describes Maddison as a formidable player.
“Maddison is a fantastic player – she made a huge contribution to our Season 1 grand final win,” says Nikkita, who has coached the teenager for the past 18 months.
“Anyone who plays in defence knows that some players will crumble under pressure and some people will always find an excuse not to perform. With Maddison it’s the complete opposite.
“Maddison is the type of player who would play six games in a day if she could. She’s an absolute asset to any club or team she plays with.”
Nikkita admits she was initially surprised to learn that Maddison had been living with an undiagnosed heart condition.
“Maddison has never used that as an excuse to pull back or restrict herself – to not do those court runs or push herself for the full four quarters,” she says.
A lot of that comes down to character, according to Nikkita.
“From both a coaching and parenting perspective, if I had a whole team of players like Maddison we’d be undefeatable!” she adds.
Saturday will be a mixed bag of emotions for the Power coach, whose daughter Maya plays alongside Maddison in their indoor netball team.
But after their game together in the morning, the pair will become adversaries in the first Hume League elimination final – Maddison playing for Jindera and Maya for Osborne.
Which ever way the ball bounces, Nikkita knows each girl will be happy for the other when the final siren goes.
For Nic, who’ll be watching – and worrying – from the side lines, the 80-game milestone this Saturday is so much more than a number for her talented daughter.
“It’s a reflection of years of dedication, natural talent and a love for the game that couldn’t be stopped,” Nic says.
“The most important thing is she is still able to play netball because netball is her whole world. Oh my goodness if that was taken away from her, the world would end!”
