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Sport

Battler Bibs' achievement is remarkable

February 7, 2012

It's an easy date to remember, and that day will stick in my mind forever as the day we thought our skipper Jess Bibby's career may have ended.

Bibby has battled back problems over the years, and when she felt a twinge in a game at Bendigo, I'll never forget her saying the words ''I'm through'' to me when she headed painfully to the bench.

My initial feeling was of my heart sinking, because I've played so many matches with 'Bibs' at the Caps and also Dandenong, and I didn't want her to bow out on such a low note.

But I know what a fighter she is, and I told her if anyone could get through this, it was her.

When you consider she missed more than two full seasons through injury, to become only the tenth person to play 300 WNBL games against AIS tonight is incredible.

To play that many matches back-to-back is an awesome achievement in itself, but getting there with a back injury that's so severe is remarkable.

The credit has to go to her for persevering, because most others would have thrown in the towel years ago. Her back means she has to bust her butt and do so many extras, to make sure her body can cope with our training workload.

Bibby will have to play four more seasons to become the most-capped player ever, but I think she's capable of getting there.

She's the oldest player in our team and still wins the sprints at training. There wouldn't be another team in the league where that would be the case.

If she feels she can contribute the way she wants to she'll keep playing. But she's the ultimate team person who won't put her hand up if she decides she can't do that.

Bibby is one of the best shooters I've played with, and one of my career highlights is watching her drain 47 points when we were at Dandenong against Canberra in 2005.

She was unstoppable that day and I remember our players were furious when our coach took her off late in the game. I remember giving the coach the worst look, one of those things you're not supposed to do, but I just wanted her out there because it was a pleasure to watch her.

Now that tonight's game has been switched to the AIS Arena, no doubt we'll decorate the dressing room and make it feel like a special night for Jess. The cooks in our team, Marianna Tolo and Hannah Bowley, will also cook some 300-themed cakes and biscuits, and hopefully we're scoffing them down after getting the win she deserves.

  • Capitals guard Carly Wilson is in her 13th season of the WNBL.