It's been a long road: Blease

[RandB]

It's been a long road: Blease

By Matt Burgan 11:51 AM Tue 29 December, 2009

Melbourne's Sam Blease trains at Casey Fields early this year
In his first exclusive interview since being recruited by Melbourne at No.17 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, Sam Blease reflects on his broken leg and the year's other challenges.


Firstly, how are you going with your rehabilitation after suffering your broken leg at school in April this year?
It's all on track. It's been a long road. It's been more than 12 months since I played football, so I can't wait to get stuck into it. It's been mentally draining. I've started running and kicking and I should be in full training soon.

Given you were at school and had the serious injury, how do you reflect on your first AFL-listed season?
If you had have asked me what my first year of AFL would be like after the draft, it was nothing like what I expected. I felt as though I let down a lot of people - my teammates and coaching staff and everyone who had put time into me and gave me an opportunity to play AFL. I just need to prove to all of them with [my] actions this year and show them what I can do and why I was taken at pick No.17 last year.

How did the injury actually happen?
I'd just rocked up at school and all of my mates were kicking the footy and I was standing around watching. I got a rush of blood and had one kick, when one of my mates tackled me as I pinched the ball off him after he had taken the mark. He slung me around and then I felt it break. It wasn't too painful - I was more in shock. No one believed me at the time that I'd broken my leg (fibula), but I lifted my school pants up and my ankle was at right angles...

whole article here
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Good to see he is recovering and keen to make amends to the team.

Just as an aside, I thought it may be a good idea to also put links to player articles in the 'Change Rooms' threads as well - not the whole article but just the headline as part of the archive for the player.

 

[Goobernutty]

Hopefully it doesn't ruin his kicking ability.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Like the part about having something to prove, justifying his high selection.

Seems a determined young kid, and boy could we use his pace in our midfield.

 

[Crimson Azure]

Hopefully it doesn't ruin his kicking ability.

Or his speed.

 

[dswan]

The boy looks very strong for 18! Surely he should play in the NAB cup

 

[The Dr]

Blease won't play in the NAB Cup you wouldn't think, the club's playing it very softly with him, and fair enough.

The second part of the interview is up on the Melbournefc website, with the last question making me warm and fuzzy....

When you were drafted, your pace and kicking were rated among your best attributes. Would you agree with that?
I think my kicking and pace are my main attributes. I did my first lot of sprints the other day and I wasn't any slower than before I broke my leg, so that's positive. I've just started my kicking again and that feels pretty good at the moment, so hopefully I can keep improving on my endurance, so I should be right to go.

 

[BETON5]

Blease won't play in the NAB Cup you wouldn't think, the club's playing it very softly with him, and fair enough.

The second part of the interview is up on the Melbournefc website, with the last question making me warm and fuzzy....

When you were drafted, your pace and kicking were rated among your best attributes. Would you agree with that?
I think my kicking and pace are my main attributes. I did my first lot of sprints the other day and I wasn't any slower than before I broke my leg, so that's positive. I've just started my kicking again and that feels pretty good at the moment, so hopefully I can keep improving on my endurance, so I should be right to go.

We are building a formidable list that is going to blow sides away and its sooner rather than later....