A BROKEN toe was a frustrating interruption to the start of 2014 for Jarryd Blair, but the injury’s genesis was more infuriating.
The Magpie small forward was riding his bike barefoot to the beach for a surf in January, when he hit a clump of sand and came flying off.
"I cut my foot and broke my toe. Everyone was standing around looking at me. It wasn’t ideal," Blair told AFL.com.au.
"There were people everywhere, it was a nightmare. It was pretty embarrassing actually."
Blair missed a month of the pre-season and the opening game of the year against Fremantle because of the accident.
After working his way back through the VFL, he has started to find form.
The small forward kicked three goals against West Coast in his best return of the year a fortnight ago, while Blair's persistent pressure has been a staple of Collingwood's mindset this season.
The 24-year-old understands the importance of being a consistent performer in a team that is becoming renowned for its depth.
With youngsters Tim Broomhead and Ben Kennedy doing all they can to force their way into the senior team, the challenge is in front of Blair to keep delivering.
"It's driven me since day one. There are plenty of small forwards around. It's something that keeps you on your toes and keeps you moving," he said.
Blair was fortunate not to lose his place in the side after he was charged by the Match Review Panel for a punch on Eagle Mitch Brown.
Blair pleaded guilty to the strike and accepted a reprimand, as well as 93.75 carryover points to his future record.
"I know Mitch (brother of teammate Nathan) pretty well and I just thought I'd give him a little jab to say hello, but I obviously must've got him a bit more flush than I planned and took the wind out of him," Blair said.
"In the end I was pretty lucky to escape without missing a week and I won't be giving any other jabs anytime soon, that's for sure."
Blair tasted ultimate success in his first year in the League when he was part of the Magpies' 2010 premiership triumph and is after another chance at glory.
"It sounds fairly clichéd. But after that first year I was thinking I could maybe win three or four (premierships) by the end (of my career)," he said.
"But (the) 2011 (premiership loss to Geelong) was a pretty disappointing result.
"Ever since, we've been chasing that and not quite getting there.
"I think after that first year I've really come to appreciate the work that does go into trying to win a flag.
"You've got to be doing everything you can and be in the right place at the right time."
