“I had a severe flare up with my spinal injury in 2015,” she said.

“I was told I would never play again, so I had a bit of a year off and then went back into C Grade. I think that’s my capacity now. 

“To be able to keep playing is really good. C Grade is still very competitive, there’s no doubt about that.”

Ward almost called it quits after reaching her 300^th game, but was determined to keep taking to the court.

“After my 300th game I was going to retire and then in the off-season I was doing rehabilitation for my injury and I felt okay, so I kept playing,” she said.

“We will see what happens. I won’t say anything about retiring now. I have to play seven games until I get to 350 senior games at Pimpinio.”

Along with playing, Ward is passionate about coaching and is currently coaching the B Grade side.

“I think I was 19 the first time I coached,” she said. “I started doing a couple of courses and off I went. I’ve had a couple of years off here and there, but I always get pulled back into it. I still enjoy it, so it’s still really good.

“Any final, particularly when I’ve coached a final, is always going to be a good memory. Coaching girls to finals is really a highlight for me. 

“I love netball and I’ve made a lot of friends out there since the very beginning. There are a lot of people out there that I have played with for 20 or 25 years.”

With her 350^th game around the corner, Ward said she was hoping to register a win.

“I don’t know what I’m expecting from the game, a win would be nice,” she said. 

After her playing days are over, Ward said she would stay involved with netball in a coaching role. 

“I have three daughters and none of them are interested in netball, but I’ll definitely be out there coaching in some capacity after I stop playing,” she said.

“The feeling around the club is pretty good. We are certainly competitive. There’s definitely hope and talent there.”