THERE'S no getting around it. The compartment syndrome St Kilda skipper Jarryn Geary suffered in his right thigh was always going to be a gruesome ordeal.
Having required three operations, a scar was inevitable. After a big knock from Melbourne speedster Jayden Hunt, which saved the Saints a goal in the third quarter of their round five victory, Geary fought on and was among his side's finer performers.
He went home after the game, as per normal, but soon found himself rushing to Epworth Hospital for emergency surgery.
SLICED OPEN Three surgeries, 30 stitches and 19 staples
That wasn't the only time he'd have to go under the knife either. Geary would endure a further two operations in the following days, which eventually required 30 staples and 19 stitches to seal up.
Don't make the mistake of thinking these stitches were of the regulation variety. They were described as being similar to fishing wire, rather than the ordinary type for smaller cuts and scrapes.
Just 44 days after that collision, the 30-year-old is preparing to take to the field once again, against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China.
Even if he wanted to, the courageous defender won't be able to forget the incident, having been left with a huge reminder of what he went through in the aftermath of that Demons victory.
Jarryn Geary is all smiles ahead of his return to the field. Picture: Michael Willson, AFL Photos
In his return, Geary will sport bandaging over his thigh and after a block of training, is confident of getting through the Power clash.
He told AFL.com.au about the process of taking those staples and stitches out.
"That was an interesting experience in itself. I couldn't get a babysitter for my daughter (Harriet), so she was in there was watching it," Geary said.
"She was actually in there, pretty well behaved. I was trying to hold on to her while I got some stitches and staples taken out."
MATCH PREVIEW Saints v Power
That process happened just 15 days after the final occasion he went under the knife.
The publicity around his injury, which saw Geary lying in a bed for five days with the wound left open as the excess blood was sucked out by a VAC dressing, drew plenty of attention, foreign to a Bendigo boy who goes about his footy and life in a no-frills manner.
Jarryn Geary and Travis Boak with the Kennedy Cup ahead of Sunday's clash. Picture: Michael Willson, AFL Photos
"It's not something I enjoy or am used to, is that much attention," Geary said.
"I've had a fair few requests about pulling down my pants and giving people a look, which hasn't been great, so I think at some stage I'm just going to have to get a photo out there and everyone can see it, and then they can see it.
"I understand the interest in it and that's fine, but I think that might be the way to go about it."
