Speaking on FTV’s The Inside Word with host Paul Hasleby earlier today, Michael Barlow recalled the moment when his season came crashing to a halt after breaking his leg in round 14.
He said he remembered feeling the impact, but that there was no real pain initially.
“I thought that there might be something wrong," Barlow said.
“I felt my leg and tried to stand up, looked down and the leg went in different directions. Then I knew something was wrong so I hit the deck.
“I was pretty calm. Pav was pretty close to me and he said I’d broken my leg.”
Barlow said pain was the last thing on his mind as he was being placed on the stretcher.
“I had my brothers over from Victoria and Adelaide respectively,” he said.
“I was just thinking about the dinner reservation we had and the night we were going to enjoy, which we weren’t going to get to enjoy anymore.
“And I was thinking about mum and dad who were at home watching the game.
“I thought they might have been beside themselves, so I was thinking about them and hoping that they were alright.”
Barlow remembers getting clapped off the ground as he was taken into the changerooms, where he admits to breaking down emotionally.
“I started to cry a little bit, thinking of all the people that love me and are close to me,” he said.
“They’ve all been so happy for me, what I’ve been able to do this year and be involved in. To think about them watching … it was a very eerie kind of feeling.”
Barlow said there was no way the incident that led to his injury could be blamed on Rhys Palmer, who he said was one of his closest friends at the club.
“It was just a classic case of two players going for the same ball with eyes only for the ball,” he said.
“He (Palmer) was really hurting, but there was no reason for him to be hurting. It’s just one of those things that happen in footy.”
Barlow said he has received advice from some AFL greats who had suffered similar injuries to him.
“I’ve had some good calls from some people who have been through it like Michael Voss, Nathan Brown and Garry Lyon,” he said.
“The overwhelming theme they’ve been following is not to rush it back and have good faith in the medical staff and sports science guys.”
Barlow also received messages of support from rival AFL players, which he said was something that he really appreciated.
“It really opens your eyes and makes me realise where I am at,” he said.
“I got a text message from Brett Deledio (Richmond) and Leigh Montagna from the Saints, and Nick Naitanui and Mark Nicoski from West Coast.
“We are rival clubs and rival players, but to know that they are thinking of me and feel for me at this time … it’ll open my eyes in future when people do injuries such as this one, that I can contribute to them getting better.”
And, Barlow’s thoughts on individual honours such as the Brownlow Medal were the same as they have been all season.
“It’s not the reason any of us play football,” he said.
“We want to have long-term team success and those kind of individual awards are icing on the cake.
“They are nothing without being involved in a successful environment.
“It’s not a thing I’ve thought about at all during the season. You don’t go out there playing, trying to get votes.
“I’ve just been lucky enough to be involved in a good winning culture this year, and as far as the Brownlow Medal is concerned … it’s something that’s the furthest thing from my mind when I’m playing and now in the rehab process.”
Barlow said media reports suggesting it could take him two years to get back to playing good footy were disappointing.
“I knew it wouldn’t have come from anyone with my best interests at heart,” he said.
“We’re going to do everything possible to get back to where I was, and better.”
Barlow said he would be back at the club soon to continue his rehabilitation process and the club has even found a new role for him to contribute towards.
“Simon Lloyd, our development coach, has earmarked some roles I can play in a playing perspective, like being able work through some footage and some of my game styles with some of the younger guys,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to that, getting involved and making the club a better chance going forward.”
CLICK HERE TO WATCH BARLOW ON THE INSIDE WORD
