The car crash involving Emily-Jane Brady has had an unfortunate dual impact on her life, sending her car to the wrecking yard and ending her playing career with the Forster Tuncurry Dolphins rugby union club.
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The 27-year-old mother of two girls sustained a neck injury in last month’s accident, leaving her with two bulging spinal discs.
“It was head-on and I was fortunate to be travelling at only 50/kph or it could have been much worse,” she said.
“The other driver was deemed at fault and I had no chance to brake.
“There have been issues from the incident. I had no fractures, but received secondary concussion and scans have revealed the bulging discs in my spine.
Being a second row forward and with our competition becoming 10-a-side this winter, the pressure will be greater in the scrum so I suspect it means retirement for me.
- Emily-Jane Brady
“I was looking forward to playing again after representing Mid North Coast, but what with this crash and the concussion I received against Gloucester last year, they have probably ended that hope.
“My head was down in the game last season when I was shoulder charged by the Gloucester girl. Her shoulder hit my chin which caused concussion.
“Being a second row forward and with our competition becoming 10-a-side this winter, the pressure will be greater in the scrum so I suspect it means retirement for me. Having two young daughters,
It’s not worth the risk of carrying on in a playing role.”
One of the advantages for the young working mother with two daughters, seven-year-old Amelia and two-year-old Indiana, is that the Dolphins’ clubhouse makes one of the biggest creches for children on the coast.
Tackle bags are essential lounges for the girls.
Emily-Jane’s playing career may have ended, but she has shouldered her share of responsibilities at the club.
She has become the Dolphins’ first female vice-president and is manager of the women’s team, the Dolphinettes.
Likewise, she is the club’s “strapper” with the retirement of long-serving Adrian Johnson.
It may still be summer, but the Dolphins displayed enterprise and pace in the recent Crescent Head “sevens” and will play Gunnedah in a trial match at Peter Barclay Field, Tuncurry, next month.
The Dolphinettes play their first trial match of the season in a curtain-raiser.
The Lower Mid North Coast premiership will kick off on April 13 with Kennards Hire again major sponsor.
Likewise, Wauchope Thunder club will make a welcome return to the Lower MNC this season, providing a six-club first grade competition and eliminating the necessity of a bye.
