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Playing through the pain
March 18, 2004
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Michael O'Loughlin in action for the Swans. Photo: Tim Clayton
Sydney's longest serving Swan Michael O'Loughlin says his body is "just hanging in there" and he is resigned to probably playing with pain for the remainder of his AFL career.
At the relatively young age of 27, O'Loughlin has already played more games (181) and kicked more goals (284) for the Swans than any other player on the list.
Captain Stuart Maxfield is the only other player on the revamped Sydney roster who played in the 1996 grand final.
Leo Barry was the only other member of the current squad remaining from the 1995 season when O'Loughlin made his debut.
"Someone mentioned to me the other day that myself, Matty Nicks and Leo Barry are the longest serving players at the club and I was like, 'hang on guys, settle down a bit, I'm still quite young'. I've just turned 27," O'Loughlin said.
A club best and fairest winner and two-time All Australian representative, O'Loughlin said he might have to get used to playing with pain for the rest of his career because of recurring knee problems.
Knee tendonitis plagued him before the start of last season when he also missed eight games, including both finals fixtures, due to hamstring and calf injuries. Used primarily as a full- forward or forward pocket, O'Loughlin still contributed 41 goals but spent plenty of time off the field managing his battered frame.
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"I couldn't walk properly after games; it took a couple of days to get used to it," O'Loughlin said.
"I think last year was a good idea of where I was at, and playing with pain and managing it after the games, hopefully it can go away somewhere and someone's got a magic cure."
He had hoped the lingering tendonitis would disappear during an eight-week break after last season but said it had hung around a bit longer and needed to be managed.
While he hasn't played in the reserves since his first season, O'Loughlin happily put his hand up to play in a practice match against ACT club Ainslie in Canberra.
Sydney coach Paul Roos said he planned to use O'Loughlin at full-forward for the first two rounds before moving him up the ground as his fitness improved.
Roos said that up to three players could make their senior debut in the first-round game against Brisbane - on March 27 at the Gabba - depending on the fitness of more established squad members.
Sydney had requested AFL permission for O'Loughlin, Jason Ball, Ben Mathews, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mark Powell and Stephen Doyle to play this weekend.
Roos said all of those players apart from Doyle were likely to be considered for round one with the fitness level of the others determining if Jarrad McVeigh, Paul Bevan or Aaron Rogers would make an AFL debut against Brisbane.
AAP
March 18, 2004
Print this article
Email to a friend
Michael O'Loughlin in action for the Swans. Photo: Tim Clayton
Sydney's longest serving Swan Michael O'Loughlin says his body is "just hanging in there" and he is resigned to probably playing with pain for the remainder of his AFL career.
At the relatively young age of 27, O'Loughlin has already played more games (181) and kicked more goals (284) for the Swans than any other player on the list.
Captain Stuart Maxfield is the only other player on the revamped Sydney roster who played in the 1996 grand final.
Leo Barry was the only other member of the current squad remaining from the 1995 season when O'Loughlin made his debut.
"Someone mentioned to me the other day that myself, Matty Nicks and Leo Barry are the longest serving players at the club and I was like, 'hang on guys, settle down a bit, I'm still quite young'. I've just turned 27," O'Loughlin said.
A club best and fairest winner and two-time All Australian representative, O'Loughlin said he might have to get used to playing with pain for the rest of his career because of recurring knee problems.
Knee tendonitis plagued him before the start of last season when he also missed eight games, including both finals fixtures, due to hamstring and calf injuries. Used primarily as a full- forward or forward pocket, O'Loughlin still contributed 41 goals but spent plenty of time off the field managing his battered frame.
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"I couldn't walk properly after games; it took a couple of days to get used to it," O'Loughlin said.
"I think last year was a good idea of where I was at, and playing with pain and managing it after the games, hopefully it can go away somewhere and someone's got a magic cure."
He had hoped the lingering tendonitis would disappear during an eight-week break after last season but said it had hung around a bit longer and needed to be managed.
While he hasn't played in the reserves since his first season, O'Loughlin happily put his hand up to play in a practice match against ACT club Ainslie in Canberra.
Sydney coach Paul Roos said he planned to use O'Loughlin at full-forward for the first two rounds before moving him up the ground as his fitness improved.
Roos said that up to three players could make their senior debut in the first-round game against Brisbane - on March 27 at the Gabba - depending on the fitness of more established squad members.
Sydney had requested AFL permission for O'Loughlin, Jason Ball, Ben Mathews, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mark Powell and Stephen Doyle to play this weekend.
Roos said all of those players apart from Doyle were likely to be considered for round one with the fitness level of the others determining if Jarrad McVeigh, Paul Bevan or Aaron Rogers would make an AFL debut against Brisbane.
AAP
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