Stepping onto the netball court against Woorndoo-Mortlake in round eight of the Mininera Netball Association 2019 season, James was ready to add her 50 club game milestone onto her list of sporting achievements.

During the first quarter James jumped for the ball and landed on her leg and said she felt her knee buckle all the way out to the right.

"It snapped back in and I couldn't get up," she said.

"A couple of footballers watching said it looked awful.

"Because I didn't make it past the first quarter in that game it wasn't counted as my 50th."

After taking up netball in 2016, James said she started playing the sport as a good way to meet people in the area when she moved from Melbourne.

"I played baseball as a junior at a high, competitive level," she said.

"Moving to the area I joined the Ararat Eagles and really felt right at home with the club.

"Changing jobs, my husband and I intended to move clubs this season which would have suited us better. We changed our minds when we heard of the Eagles' struggles of attracting players, we knew we had to stay to help the club."

And help the club, they did. James volunteers in many areas outside of the netball courts, including stints in the bar on Saturdays and helping out at Wednesday night dinners.

"I can't help much at all anymore because I can't stand for long periods," she said.

"Despite not being able to play since my injury I have been at every game, supporting in any way I can.

"We're very loyal to the club and I understand how important it is to have as many helpers and volunteers each week."

James said after visiting her surgeon on Monday, she had two weeks to get her knee to straighten out before booking in a surgery date.

"What they need to do is a full anterior crucial ligament replacement with keyhole surgery," she said.

"They take out the ACL which is ruptured. The ligament is taken off my hamstring and replaced.

"You need to be able to straighten your leg completely before they can do it. Right now, because of the pain I can't."

Adding to the ACL injury, James said she also has a nine millimetre fracture in the bone next to where the ACL sits.

"That fracture occurred because of the pressure of holding in all the ligaments and muscle," she said.

"I've been walking on it for three weeks. I'm really focusing on what advice I've been given in the hope of a speedy recovery.

"At the moment, I am looking to have surgery towards the end of the month or next month.

"It means I will miss the rest of this season and possibly the whole of next season as well.

"I guess it will take a little bit longer to reach my 50 game milestone."

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