A SERIOUS left knee reconstruction and advice from her surgeon forced Kristy Stratton to give up her athletics dreams.
The injury could be considered a blessing in disguise for the former long- and triple-jumper, who switched her focus to football and became the first ever player to be drafted from the Box Hill Hawks.
Not deterred by Stratton’s injury woes, Collingwood selected the midfielder with pick 21 in Wednesday’s draft. Stratton said she felt relieved to be drafted after taking Collingwood’s advice to get surgery on the same problematic knee just five weeks ago.
“I didn’t really expect to get drafted so this is just unreal,” Stratton said.
“I got the surgery because Collingwood told me to, so I did that so I would be 100 per cent for the AFLW season. I didn’t know if they’d take me, so I took the risk to have the surgery and it’s paid off.”
More remarkably Stratton has been drafted after playing just six games in the VFLW this year. Her season was interrupted due to her knee problems, having to take two months off due to injury and only returning in the back end of the season for the Hawks.
Despite these interruptions and recovering from surgery, Collingwood coach Wayne Siekman has great belief in the 22-year-old. After the draft, Siekman said Stratton was “the best player in the draft over 20 years old.”
“I was very humbled when I read that, I didn’t really expect that to come out of Wayne’s mouth,” Stratton said.
“I didn't play many games this season and he’s obviously watched me play and thinks I can play with the best, so I guess I have to work hard to live up to that and prove him right.”
Stratton has to do the hard yards to prove her coach right, as she still has seven weeks of recovery to do before she can take on a full load of training at the Holden Centre. Even if Stratton’s recovery does go to plan, she still won’t be able to join her Collingwood teammates on the track until mid-December.
Stratton remains optimistic about the challenge and being fit for round one. Having the support of Melissa Kuys at Collingwood, her captain at Box Hill, will help.
“I have to take it week by week and focus on what I need to as a footballer and give it everything I can to be fit and ready,” she said.
“Mel (Kuys) has captained me for the last couple of years so it’ll be amazing to be with her and I know she’ll be there for me if I need anything.”
Stratton said watching the first season of AFLW unfold made her believe in her ability to play a higher standard of footy. It also quelled any fear that she had missed out on a successful career in athletics.
“AFLW made me realise that I could be playing that standard and made me determined to get the next season and get drafted,” Stratton said.
“It was pretty sad to give up athletics but in the end my sister [long-jumper Brooke] is an Olympian, and it makes me happy to see her be successful.
"I know I made the right choice to play football."
