Draggas_Girl7
Debutant
Enter the Dragga: When lightning strikes twice…
Marc Dragicevic
richmondfc.com.au
12:39:47 PM Thu 18 April, 2002
‘Pop’ and ‘Crack’ . . . that all-too familiar feeling I experienced in May, 2001, had returned to haunt me. When it happened this time – in our Wizard Cup clash with Carlton at Colonial Stadium – I remember the first words I muttered were, “Oh no, not again!"
It’s quite difficult to explain to someone how you feel if they haven’t been through the same thing, but I can say that it doesn’t really sink in straight away. The reason for this would be the fact that after the initial pain (which is excruciating), your knee becomes numb and sometimes (like mine this time) you can even walk around.
After a week or so, it’s almost as if you’re back to normal. You are walking around, driving, etc., so you go into the operation thinking, why am I even getting this done – I feel fine!
There’s never a good time to do your knee, but my timing for this one couldn’t have been any worse, as the following night was my 21st Birthday party. The last thing I felt like doing was celebrating. Obviously, in my mind, there was nothing to celebrate.
In the end, however, I had a very enjoyable night – mainly due to the fact that nearly all my mates from the footy Club made the long trek down Princes Highway to the party in Geelong.
It just made the night that much easier to handle, knowing I had such support from the players, coaches and staff members.
How am I feeling about my knee right now?
Certainly, I’m looking forward to getting myself fit again and looking respectable – but I know it’s going to be a very long season. From that point of view, it’s really important that I continually challenge myself and set goals, so that I can stay sufficiently motivated.
It’s amazing the camaraderie that exists within the football world and I’m sure the fans would be surprised to learn about the willingness of players from rival clubs to help out where they can.
In my situation, I’ve kept in constant contact with Collingwood's Jarrod Molloy, while his Magpie teammate Carl Steinfort and Geelong's Mark Woolnough visited me in hospital. I’ve spoken to Port Adelaide’s Michael Wilson, Kangaroos captain, Anthony Stevens, and St Kilda skipper, Robert Harvey, who have all been what I’m going through right now, and I also received a letter from the Roos’ Leigh Colbert.
It certainly lifts your spirits when these sorts of things happen, and makes you feel as though you're not alone.
To keep myself busy this year, I’m going to be doing a few different things. I’m already working on the Fox Footy Channel, hosting our Club show, ‘Tigerland’ (Wednesday evenings at 5.45pm). I’ll also be writing a regular column for our website. On top of that, my ‘old’ Tiger teammate, Paddy Steinfort, and myself are looking to do a segment on Channel 31 program, Tiger TV (8.30pm Tuesday nights), which, hopefully, will be good fun for us and the Yellow and Black fans.
Where do I want to be next year?
Well, the obvious answer is right here, at Richmond. But just for something different, I might try to actually play a few games . . !
I want to spend the rest of this year getting myself ready for the 2003 season -- both physically and mentally.
To do this, I have to train extremely hard -- and get the "WHY ME" question out of my head! The latter is already being attended to.
My training will consist of a number of things, varying from boxing, swimming, cycling and weight-work.
This, along with dedication, focus and goal-setting, should see me back next year, fit and ready to have another crack at doing what I love most -- wearing the famous Yellow and Black on the MCG . . .
Marc Dragicevic
richmondfc.com.au
12:39:47 PM Thu 18 April, 2002
‘Pop’ and ‘Crack’ . . . that all-too familiar feeling I experienced in May, 2001, had returned to haunt me. When it happened this time – in our Wizard Cup clash with Carlton at Colonial Stadium – I remember the first words I muttered were, “Oh no, not again!"
It’s quite difficult to explain to someone how you feel if they haven’t been through the same thing, but I can say that it doesn’t really sink in straight away. The reason for this would be the fact that after the initial pain (which is excruciating), your knee becomes numb and sometimes (like mine this time) you can even walk around.
After a week or so, it’s almost as if you’re back to normal. You are walking around, driving, etc., so you go into the operation thinking, why am I even getting this done – I feel fine!
There’s never a good time to do your knee, but my timing for this one couldn’t have been any worse, as the following night was my 21st Birthday party. The last thing I felt like doing was celebrating. Obviously, in my mind, there was nothing to celebrate.
In the end, however, I had a very enjoyable night – mainly due to the fact that nearly all my mates from the footy Club made the long trek down Princes Highway to the party in Geelong.
It just made the night that much easier to handle, knowing I had such support from the players, coaches and staff members.
How am I feeling about my knee right now?
Certainly, I’m looking forward to getting myself fit again and looking respectable – but I know it’s going to be a very long season. From that point of view, it’s really important that I continually challenge myself and set goals, so that I can stay sufficiently motivated.
It’s amazing the camaraderie that exists within the football world and I’m sure the fans would be surprised to learn about the willingness of players from rival clubs to help out where they can.
In my situation, I’ve kept in constant contact with Collingwood's Jarrod Molloy, while his Magpie teammate Carl Steinfort and Geelong's Mark Woolnough visited me in hospital. I’ve spoken to Port Adelaide’s Michael Wilson, Kangaroos captain, Anthony Stevens, and St Kilda skipper, Robert Harvey, who have all been what I’m going through right now, and I also received a letter from the Roos’ Leigh Colbert.
It certainly lifts your spirits when these sorts of things happen, and makes you feel as though you're not alone.
To keep myself busy this year, I’m going to be doing a few different things. I’m already working on the Fox Footy Channel, hosting our Club show, ‘Tigerland’ (Wednesday evenings at 5.45pm). I’ll also be writing a regular column for our website. On top of that, my ‘old’ Tiger teammate, Paddy Steinfort, and myself are looking to do a segment on Channel 31 program, Tiger TV (8.30pm Tuesday nights), which, hopefully, will be good fun for us and the Yellow and Black fans.
Where do I want to be next year?
Well, the obvious answer is right here, at Richmond. But just for something different, I might try to actually play a few games . . !
I want to spend the rest of this year getting myself ready for the 2003 season -- both physically and mentally.
To do this, I have to train extremely hard -- and get the "WHY ME" question out of my head! The latter is already being attended to.
My training will consist of a number of things, varying from boxing, swimming, cycling and weight-work.
This, along with dedication, focus and goal-setting, should see me back next year, fit and ready to have another crack at doing what I love most -- wearing the famous Yellow and Black on the MCG . . .
