My ankle simply wasn’t responding to treatment the way that I had initially hoped.
Every time I thought I was just about right to get back out there and start running, my ankle would flare up again and I’d be left playing the waiting game for another week.
In the end, I was advised that the best way to ensure a full recovery would be to go under the knife. As disappointing as it was to take that option and miss the rest of the season, at least I now know that it will be fully recovered by the time I start training again.
Rather than just pack the season in post-surgery, I’ve been making sure that I am at least being of some use around the Club - just not in a playing capacity.
I actually made the trip down to Melbourne for our game against Carlton a few weeks ago to offer assistance in an off-field role. I even stayed back for an extra day with Assistant Coach Jade Rawlings to watch some opposition games and help out with some forward scouting.
I really enjoyed the experience and it certainly made me feel as though I was contributing something to the Club.
I’ve also been keeping busy with a few appearances around the place to schools and junior clubs.
Myself, Fev and ‘Goose’ Maguire headed out to Giffin Park last week to help the Coorparoo Juniors with their training sessions.
After the kids had enjoyed playing ‘stacks on Fev’, we all separated into the different age groups and took them through some drills.
I helped conduct training for a small group of under 16s who have apparently gone through a pretty tough season so far. It was great to hear from their coach afterwards that he thought it was one of their best training sessions for the year.
Much has been said lately about our own poor form and there isn’t any use hiding away from it.
We’ve only won once in our past 12 games and there is plenty of heat being directed at the Club from both the media and our fans. It’s probably warranted considering some of our recent performances, but I can assure everyone that it is being felt by every person at our Club.
The players and coaches are hurting more than anyone, but they’re also committed to finding ways to turn it around.
As Senior Coach, Vossy has been taking most of the hits but I know a lot of the players in particular feel a great deal of responsibility for what’s going on at the moment.
