WILLASTON footballer Shari Chambers has been through hell and back in recent times, but the hardship was all a distant memory on Sunday as she was named best on ground in the Barossa,  Light & Gawler senior women’s grand final.

Four years ago, the 36-yearold severely injured her back while playing social netball, leaving her wheelchair bound.

“I played social netball, I’d never played anything competitive before,” Chambers said.

“During one of the games I got a bulging disc, and I had that for six months and it got to a point where it was so bad that I couldn’t get out of bed and I needed an ambulance.

“It hurt my nerve, I couldn’t even lift the kids, and they couldn’t sit on my lap or anything.

“I decided at the end of August 2015 I’d have surgery after a few months of being in a wheelchair.

“Once I went in for the operation everything was fine, and that decision turned my life around.”

Three years after the operation, Chambers opted to pull on the boots to play football as the inaugural Gawler Central women’s captain.

“I was a part of the committee last year and Jo Glazbrook told me I was playing,” she said.

“I started with them and captained their team, and then I made the decision to move across to Willaston.”

During her post-game speech after accepting the best on ground medal – despite her side falling short against Barossa District in the decider – Chambers said 2019 had been “the best year of my life”.

“Physically and mentally, this year has turned my life around,” she said.

“The support of the club, all the girls, (coach) Andre (Boers), we don’t use the term ‘family’ often, but it really is.

“We train hard, we go out and support each other; all the girls who were injured this year, they’ve been training us and supporting us the whole way.

“To have my beautiful family and friends around me is amazing.”

While the Donnybrooks lost the grand final, Chambers was proud the side got up for the game after losing two of their players to horrific injuries.

After going through a long term injury herself, she said it was incredibly hard to watch her injured team-mates on the sidelines at training before the match.

“We tried to keep as strong as possible, but even Friday night, I hadn’t cried for them, and we were training and they were standing there with their crutches and I broke down crying through our warm-up lap,” Chambers said.

“It doesn’t define them, at the end of the day they’ll make the decision whether to play (next year) or not, but they’re the sort of people who will continue somewhere in the club.

“Megan (Boers) broke two bones in one leg, and she’ll be the assistant coach.”