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career trajectories ruined by injury?

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One that is rarely mentioned (because it was so long ago) is 1957 Brownlow Medallist Brian Gleeson. A 21yo ruckman at the time Gleeson polled 24 votes to win the medal. Was subsequently named as St Kilda captain for the next season. HOwever, he did his ACL in pre-season training and never played again.
 

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Angus Brayshaw 😔
 
Breretonisahood said:
What was the specific injury? I know he dislocated his knee but that of itself shouldn’t end a career.
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It was a dislocated knee. Whether it was just the kneecap, as is more common, or a greater dislocation of the knee joint, I’m not sure.

The difference back then was the treatment. It’s a little hard to imagine but it was all just so rudimentary. Nowadays a physio goes pop and manipulates it back it to place, and then rehab starts to strengthen it.

Much less idea about joints, movement and everything else back then. Who knows how they even got it relocated, was there a doctor on hand who had some idea what he was doing, did they take him to hospital and did it remain dislocated for an extended period… did they perform surgery to relocate it and that would’ve had its own complications… just all totally different to today.
 
Occidental said:
Des Fothergill.
1937 Straight into a very strong Pies team at 16 and wins B&F. Kicks 28 goals. Plays GF
1938 Wins B&F again at 17, plays another GF, kicks 65 goals while resting up forward.
1939 Grand Final again, 51 goals when forward
1940. B&F again, 56 goals and Brownlow Medal.

3 Grand Finals, 3 Club Best & Fairests, a Brownlow Medal and 200 goals by age 20.

1941. Swaps to VFA for more money. Wins club & VFA Best & Fairests.

Enlists in army and injured during training exercises. Knee is blown. Misses 3 years of footy when in army.

1945 Resumes at Pies. 10kg heavier, on one knee and now a permanent forward.
1945 Kicks 62 goals.
1946 Kicks 63 goals.
1947 Starts the year with bags of 5,4 and 3 by half time. Knee goes again in that Round 3 game.

110 games, 337 goals & a Brownlow
Only played 6 season, 2 of which were post army injury.
Career over at 26.
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It’s absolutely insane how many Collingwood immortals from the 1920s to 1950s left the club mid career to play for big money in another league.

The McHale years saw decades of Pie policy which stated that every player gets the same weekly coin amount.

Leeter Collier leaving Victoria Park for two seasons in Tasmania with Cananore FC…
 

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Bunk Moreland said:
It was a dislocated knee. Whether it was just the kneecap, as is more common, or a greater dislocation of the knee joint, I’m not sure.

The difference back then was the treatment. It’s a little hard to imagine but it was all just so rudimentary. Nowadays a physio goes pop and manipulates it back it to place, and then rehab starts to strengthen it.

Much less idea about joints, movement and everything else back then. Who knows how they even got it relocated, was there a doctor on hand who had some idea what he was doing, did they take him to hospital and did it remain dislocated for an extended period… did they perform surgery to relocate it and that would’ve had its own complications… just all totally different to today.
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As an example of what you’re saying, Warren Tredrea missed only 6 weeks (including surgery IIRC) when he did it at Princes Park in 1998. He had the same problem with the other knee in pre season 2006, again 6 weeks.
 
Can't remember his injury (knee/s?) but Clem Michael at Fremantle would have been an influential ruckman.
 
Josh Drummond... had amazing disposal by foot, laser like, if his body stayed healthy IMO he would have been one of the best players in the competition.
 
Main 2 for Eagles i think is Beau Waters and Eric MacKenzie. Beau Waters especially. 120 odd games in 11 years was a shame
 

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Clay Smith. 3 knee recos, and then to go on and be just about the dogs' most important player of the 2016 finals.

Could have been anything if given a clean bill of health.
 
Matty Egan from my team. Best defender in the league in 07, including Scarlett which was arguably his best season.

Correct answer for this thread is obviously John Coleman tho.
 

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