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You play football for a number of years and you hear about this injury, and you think okay its just another injury. Like a hamstring, a bad sprain, a broken bone nothing too serious. You see some players who get an A.C.L injury walk off the ground like its nothing while others rolling in pain. But the truth is you really never know what its like till you actually do one.
Before I injured my right knee, the worst injury I ever had was a few torn ligaments in my ankle, that was a 4-6 week injury. Basically a month of sitting on the sidelines…and I thought that was a long time. When you’re young you think you are invincible, and that can be a great attribute to have. Just being fearless/reckless. Running in at speed, backing into packs and throwing your body into situations that should require a second thought. Its true in some instances that hesitating can be your worst enemy. Being half hearted and not committed can make you unprepared for collisions, and this usually results in injury.
The day I injured my right knee, I was feeling fit and ready for a serious hit out. I had had a two year break from football after playing for 8 years straight. I felt I needed a break after playing football at an intense skill and physical level. I had played juniors at a W.A.F.L level for South Fremantle and Peel Thunder and usually played above my age level. I was starting to lose interest, my body was tired and mentally I wasnt enjoying it. My game started to suffer, as I was playing more for my own interests and above all not enjoying being in the moment.
I remember winning a premiership and going a whole season undefeated but somehow not feeling excited about it. I was more disappointed in my performance that day, even though my performance in the game before had set us up for the Grand Final. So I thought I’d have a crack at Rugby Union…as you do. Rugby Union was good because it was different. I learned to be more physical, there was no way you could not be. It was very confrontational. To effectively tackle at my size, you had to learn proper technique. I could kick 50 meters off a tee no problems and my handling skills from football helped with my passing. I ended playing at Fullback. Even though the rules were new, I learned how to read the play, something that I used to do well in football.
Anyway I did as much as I could with Rugby Union. I toured South Africa, played in a curtain raiser for a Test match and made great mates. Rugby boys party as hard as they play. But I had an itch that I needed to scratch. Maybe I felt I had unfinished business, anyway I went back to football and did a full pre season after two years ‘off ‘.
My pre season form was real good, top three in time trials for long distance and top five for sprints. The League coach had known my form as a junior and said I might play League but he wanted to see me play a couple of games in Reserves. So here I am ready for a big game. I start as a ruck rover and get off to a nice start. I think the sooner you get your hands on the ball the easier it becomes to get into the game. By half time, I have run ragged but have best on ground honours, with the League coach and a few of the boys giving me a pat on the back.
Hindsights a beautiful thing.
I remember seeing the football go towards the boundary line. This was the boundary line closest to our supporters and near the clubhouse. Going hard out on this wing with the crowd going ballistic really gave you an adrenaline rush. I guess I just suffered from a rush of blood to the head. The football was bouncing close to the boundary with me leading a footrace against three opponents. I thought i could tap it in and continue running onto it, but the ball suddenly held up and I got crunched from all directions. Shirtfronted, pushed in the back and had my legs taken out. All at the same time. It felt like my right knee got chopped in two. Just a big crunch, like ripping a chicken leg off a roast chicken, the worst pain I have ever felt. I physically felt my knee slide out then back in. The whole incident seem to last ages, but realistically would of happen in less than a minute.
I lay there yelling every obscenity under the sun until the medic came over and help me hobble to the bench. I was a bit annoyed because play kept going with no one taking notice except for a boundary umpire, asking if I was alright..which I clearly was not. And then I was in no state to walk yet had to hobble off and eventually had to drive myself to the hospital. Lucky I had an automatic so I drove myself to the hospital with another team mate who by the looks of things, had broken his wrist.
This all occurred on a day that happened to be my Dad’s birthday……
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