In the first of an exclusive two-part series for melbournefc.com.au, 2007 first-round draftee Jack Grimes talks about his battles with injury and how he is tracking since being selected at No.14 in last year's NAB AFL Draft.

First of all, how are you going with your groin and back injuries and can you tell us how it happened?

JG: It all started late last year. I developed a stress fracture in my back from overuse. It came from playing a lot of games of footy during the year and it caught up with me a little bit. Then coming down to Melbourne, they found I had a few issues with my hips and groins – they weren't functioning how they should.

This was causing a lot more pressure on my back and this is why it occurred, so that's been monitored and now we're trying to get the core muscles working properly to take the stress off the back and it's working now. I'm now doing pilates and core strengthening [exercises] and the groins aren't sore and the back is feeling great. It feels as though I could play a game of footy.

In recent years, it's been tough for a lot of young guys coming through the system, having played so many junior matches before getting drafted and consequently they come to an AFL club injured. Is that how you've found it?

JG: Talking to selectors, all of them think that we play too many games and train too hard and our bodies aren't ready for it, and last year I only played two-thirds of the season before I got injured.

In that period I would've played one game a week with the [Northern] Knights – about 10 games for them – plus practice matches before that, but then on top of that I had the Vic Metro try outs and Vic Metro games and there was three games in a week during the championships.

In the lead up to playing with Vic Metro, you're still training with the Knights throughout the same time, so it is a lot [of games] – probably a bit too much and our bodies aren't used to it. That's why you see so many [youngsters] with osteitis pubis and stress fractures.

How frustrating have these injuries been for you in your first year at the club?

JG: It has been hard, having come down to a new club, because the only thing you want to do is get out there and train and play and learn as much as you can. It is hard watching guys like Cale Morton and Austin Wonaeamirri doing as well as they are, because you think: 'I wonder if that could've been me if I wasn't injured', but I'm just happy seeing them do as well as they are.

The rehab [staff], doctors and physios told me if it didn't happen this season, it would've happened later on down the track. I'd much rather it happened this year than next year when I hope to be playing better footy, so it's good that they've (the medical staff) said that once I get this out of the way, it shouldn't happen again. Hopefully I'll go into next pre-season and it'll be as good as ever.

How hard has it been being on the long-term injury list?

JG: It was hard at the time not being on the senior list and knowing that I couldn't play footy for eight weeks no matter what happened, but it was good to see Aussie [Austin Wonaeamirri] play and to see how far he has come in eight weeks. He has been so good for the club and for him as well. It makes it easier seeing someone like him take your place.