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Magic forced to play through pain
By John Thirsk
July 8, 2003
SIX-GOAL hero Michael "Magic" O'Loughlin is resigned to playing out the season with knee trouble.
Still on a high after kicking the Swans to victory over West Coast in front of 31,000 fans, O'Loughlin revealed yesterday that medical staff had told him his troublesome knee tendon problem would stay with him while he was continually active.
Knee and calf injuries have sidelined O'Loughlin for six matches.
The Swans continue to make the critics eat their words sitting in fifth spot eight rounds from finals.
He missed 14 weeks of pre-season training and didn't start jogging sessions until round three.
But O'Loughlin, 26, a veteran of nine seasons in Sydney, is adamant he can continue to play at the exceptional level he produced at the SCG on Sunday.
"I've got my fingers crossed the knee and calf tear won't come back," O'Loughlin said yesterday.
"It's a matter of trying to manage the injuries the best I can.
"Hopefully my body will hold together and I can motivate the team into the finals.
"The knee is still sore now and then, but the medical staff [Dr Nathan Gibbs and physio Matt Cameron] have been fantastic.
"It's the best I've felt since Christmas, but the knee is still not 100 per cent or feeling the best.
"No surgery is needed even after the season ... it's simply rest that is needed."
Physio Matt Cameron is confident O'Loughlin's injuries will hold up for the rest of the season.
"We'll [medical staff] keep him on light training so he doesn't overdo it and the problems flare up again."
The Swans are also confident defenders Jason Saddington and Ben Mathews will be fit for the match against St Kilda at the SCG on Saturday night.
TWO recovery sessions, an eight-day break and a later return flight have Brisbane Lions primed to become the first visiting AFL side this season to win the weekend after travelling to Perth, according to coach Leigh Matthews.
No visiting side has won at Subiaco Oval or the following week, but Matthews is adamant the long-haul excursion to Perth will not leave his under-performing side feeling drained against Hawthorn at the 'Gabba on Sunday.
The Daily Telegraph
By John Thirsk
July 8, 2003
SIX-GOAL hero Michael "Magic" O'Loughlin is resigned to playing out the season with knee trouble.
Still on a high after kicking the Swans to victory over West Coast in front of 31,000 fans, O'Loughlin revealed yesterday that medical staff had told him his troublesome knee tendon problem would stay with him while he was continually active.
Knee and calf injuries have sidelined O'Loughlin for six matches.
The Swans continue to make the critics eat their words sitting in fifth spot eight rounds from finals.
He missed 14 weeks of pre-season training and didn't start jogging sessions until round three.
But O'Loughlin, 26, a veteran of nine seasons in Sydney, is adamant he can continue to play at the exceptional level he produced at the SCG on Sunday.
"I've got my fingers crossed the knee and calf tear won't come back," O'Loughlin said yesterday.
"It's a matter of trying to manage the injuries the best I can.
"Hopefully my body will hold together and I can motivate the team into the finals.
"The knee is still sore now and then, but the medical staff [Dr Nathan Gibbs and physio Matt Cameron] have been fantastic.
"It's the best I've felt since Christmas, but the knee is still not 100 per cent or feeling the best.
"No surgery is needed even after the season ... it's simply rest that is needed."
Physio Matt Cameron is confident O'Loughlin's injuries will hold up for the rest of the season.
"We'll [medical staff] keep him on light training so he doesn't overdo it and the problems flare up again."
The Swans are also confident defenders Jason Saddington and Ben Mathews will be fit for the match against St Kilda at the SCG on Saturday night.
TWO recovery sessions, an eight-day break and a later return flight have Brisbane Lions primed to become the first visiting AFL side this season to win the weekend after travelling to Perth, according to coach Leigh Matthews.
No visiting side has won at Subiaco Oval or the following week, but Matthews is adamant the long-haul excursion to Perth will not leave his under-performing side feeling drained against Hawthorn at the 'Gabba on Sunday.
The Daily Telegraph
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