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We'll AJ and his doctors know a lot about his knees and what works and what doesnt.
Big decisions coming up for him and the swans. Can we wait another year.?
Big decisions coming up for him and the swans. Can we wait another year.?
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I unfortunately think it's time for AJ to hang up the boots. For his good ACL to go in such in innocuous event would indicate that he is probably predisposed to this type of injury. He will be 27/28 by the time he gets back into the team and his position could be taken by a young rookie.Comment
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Could we employ him as a coach in some aspects?Comment
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With a LARS graft, he doesn’t have to wait a year. He’ll be 27 if he comes back smoothly. So long as he has no infections and the graft holds (which isn’t a biological tissue healing thing, hence the shorter rehab & recovery time).
James Podsiadly made his debut at 28
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Like he has been for 6 years? I’d say that’s a certaintyComment
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The same occurred to me. I guess a question for the doctors is whether the infections he got after his 2nd and 3rd reconstructions were in any way a reaction to the artificial graft. None of us can even guess.
It's completely up to him whether he wants to keep going again. Well, OK, not just up to him. The club has some say, but it irritated me no end to have commentators calling an end to his career five minutes after it happened. There will be many considerations for Alex and the club but I don't think occupying a list spot is one of them. As others have said, the last spot on the rookie list has little opportunity cost for the club. An alternative might be to delist/retire him, keep him around the club to support his rehab (and employ him in a coaching role), and then redraft him a year later if he recuperates OK and wants to keep going. There is no other club in the land who would jump in and draft him ahead of the Swans if both he and they wanted to redraft him.
Still early days yet and no decision needs to be taken by him or the club for a while yet.Comment
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I wanted to reach in and strangle BT when he started on with that bull@@@@, I really did. I think it was highly disrespectful - as was talk after the game by some whether he would have the 'mental fortitude' (Or some similar words) to go through it again.... I know BT is just commentating as he sees it, but did it really need to go to that stage so soon.
As terrible as it sounds, at least it was his good knee. If it was the bad knee surely there would be only one decision that would be realistic. But perhaps he can give it one last shot - whatever he and the club decide, I will support.
Just an awful moment however, truly awful when he went down. So innocuous looking
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."Comment
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A Hawthorn supporter posted this on BigFooty, I thought I'd share it here as it speaks for itself:
Whenever something like this happens I’m always reminded of this quote by Theodore Roosevelt,
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.‘
Alex Johnson is, and throughout all his struggles has been an absolute warrior - a man who doesn’t deserve this in any way, shape or form. He exemplifies what this quote means, because even though most would have given up and surrendered he has kept going and fought (and fought and fought). The game is better with men like this rather than squibs who never face adversity but give in at the first sign of tough times.
I hate seeing any players injured and have a hateful rage inside me when I see or hear people from all clubs who like seeing players get hurt.
I pray that the prognosis is for a quick recovery and that this young man is back as quick as he can be, playing the game he loves and bringing joy to himself and all real football fans. I look forward to seeing him dominate again, (even against the Hawks), because he like Daniel Menzel deserves a better hand from fate, now and in the future.
@@@@ life can be unfair. Best of Luck Alex and the Swannies.Comment
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AJ Watch
If it were to happen, I am so glad it did back at AFL level, rather than in the NEAFL or at training.
I’m not sure it’s an issue about his knee itself and whether to go through the rehab process again, as sad as it is I think he has to weigh up the likelihood that he can get back to a level where he can be a regular AFL player.
With how much footy he’s already missed, I think his potential was dramatically capped anyway, and more time out and more failures of the body make it a long way back.
But clearly he’s capable of fighting on if it’s what he wants to do.Comment
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Surely the club will find a rookie spot if he wants to try one more time?Comment
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Different studies have indicated that between 5-20% of people will injure their other ACL at some stage after having an ACL reconstruction.
But bear in mind that 1) it isn’t cumulative - 5 ACL reconstructions doesn’t mean that you have a 25-100% chance; 2) these are just statistics.
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I would think so. Even recovering from a 6th ACL, he has a greater chance playing senior football than at least one player currently on the list.Comment
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"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."Comment
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