Discussion Players returning from knee injury . . . do they make a successful return?

[Bobby_]

(mods, please move to relevant forum if not suitable to footy history)

I was wondering how many past/present footballers were able to make a successful return after suffering a serious knee injury.
Peter Hudson was able to do so and kicked over 100 goals but he retired immediately afterwards.
Koutoufides was playing to an incredibly high level before hurting the knee. He returned a year later and was never the same again.

Have there been success stories over the years and if so, who are some of those players?

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Paul Salmon suffered a serious knee injury early on in his career and returned to kick bags on 6 and 5 goals in Essendon's respective 1985 and 1993 premierships. He was a star, and considering his height, his agility was never effected as a result.

 

[andrew coombs]

(mods, please move to relevant forum if not suitable to footy history)

I was wondering how many past/present footballers were able to make a successful return after suffering a serious knee injury.
Peter Hudson was able to do so and kicked over 100 goals but he retired immediately afterwards.
Koutoufides was playing to an incredibly high level before hurting the knee. He returned a year later and was never the same again.

Have there been success stories over the years and if so, who are some of those players?

Peter Hudson did his knee in round 1 1972 and barring two cameos didn't play again in the VFL until 1977. The fact he kicked 110 that year ( as a part time player who lived in Hobart and didnt even train with Hawthorn ) is just further evidence that he is the greatest full forward of all time. I'm not sure there are any AFL clubs who would be prepared to give a player a five year break to recover from a knee injury. Probably wouldn't hurt.

Seriously though it probably depends on the individual. Blokes like Gary Buckenara, Doug Hawkins and Tim Watson returned to reach their best level after recos. The aforementioned Kouta and David Schwartz never were able to regain their acceleration and spring. Still very good serviceable players players but nothing like their previous selves. Then there are others like McCaffer and Whitecross who have broken down again after long rehabs. There is obviously no proven path to recovery. We just have to wait and see.

 

[killer]

Jack Dyer - could only run in a straight line afterwards

 

[bradrowe#32]

Peter Daicos required a full knee reco after seven matches of the 1985 season. He missed several games over the following two seasons, although in 1986 he polled 10 Brownlow votes in 16 matches. He was a gun from 1988 to 1990 and solid in 1991 and 1992.

 

[bkozican]

It seems they can but never reach the potential they they once had.

 

[royals1922]

Classify knee injury. Are we talking ACL,MCL etc or wider

 

[12Chill]

Lenny Hayes ruptured his ACL in 2006.

In 2008-2010 he was dominant.
24 disposals and 6 tackles a game in 2008. 15 Brownlow votes.
28 disposals and 6.3 tackles a game in 2009. 20 Brownlow votes.
27.4 disposals and 7.1 tackles a game in 2010. 19 Brownlow votes.

He did his ACL in 2011.

24.5 disposals and 5.9 tackles a game in 2012. 19 Brownlow votes.
23 disposals and 4.6 tackles a game in 2013.
23.3 disposals and 6.5 tackles a game in 2014.

He was even aged 32 to 34 in these three years ('12, '13 and '14) where he returned and still played a high level of football.

 

[Silvagnis]

Silvagni was a success story after he tore his ACL in 1991.

Dean Rice was a ripping player after he came to Carlton with a knee and tore his ACL in his first game. 118 games.

Hanna was still fast after doing it.

Luke O'Sullivan struggled.

Kreuzer's had a litany of problems since he did his knee.

 

[Bobby_]

Classify knee injury. Are we talking ACL,MCL etc or wider

Was thinking just your standard ACL.

David Wojcinski did his early into his career but his jumping, lateral movement and explosive speed was at a pinnacle after he returned in 2007.

 

[royals1922]

Was thinking just your standard ACL.

David Wojcinski did his early into his career but his jumping, lateral movement and explosive speed was at a pinnacle after he returned in 2007.

No empirical evidence but I suspect people remember the success stories but do not remember the failures

 

[half_back_flank]

Paul Salmon suffered a serious knee injury early on in his career and returned to kick bags on 6 and 5 goals in Essendon's respective 1985 and 1993 premierships. He was a star, and considering his height, his agility was never effected as a result.

I only saw Salmon the Hawthorn ruckman, but you're the first i've heard say that his knee didn't affect him. He kicked 63 in 13 games as a 19 year old in his second season, after his knee he never came close to pulling those numbers again.

 

[Adz2332]

Robbie Gray had one of the worst knee injuries ive seen in awhile against collingwood i believe.
Touch wood has come back better than ever and currently living up to the potential he has always had



footage. dont look if your easily sickened!

 

[35Daicos]

Paul Licuria had two knee reconstructions (one on each leg) before he was drafted, but went on to have a very fine career, which included two club b & f wins. Justin Leppitsch was another serious knee injury victim at a young age, but went on to become a wonderful player.

 

[royals1922]

Paul Licuria had two knee reconstructions (one on each leg) before he was drafted, but went on to have a very fine career, which included two club b & f wins. Justin Leppitsch was another serious knee injury victim at a young age, but went on to become a wonderful player.

While Leigh walker had 3 or 4 and never got to play to his full potential

 

[35Daicos]

While Leigh walker had 3 or 4 and never got to play to his full potential

His career was an absolute tragedy, as he seemingly had the attributes to be a very fine player. It will be a miracle if Alex Johnson of Sydney ever gets to revive his career, and Daniel Menzel is probably only one more bad injury away from being forced into an early retirement. For some players, it's just not meant to be.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

This is SANFL, but the knee injury that intrigued me as a lad was that of South Adelaide's Peter Darley. Peter was a brilliant player who, if he were around today would be worth millions. He could do anything. He played in their 1964 premiership team and finished 2 votes behind in the Magarey Medal. Then in 1965 he injured his knee and missed the best part of 2 seasons. Famous for his off field activities and dislike of disciplined training schedules, he finally came back, several stone overweight, but continued to play for a number of years after that, captaining South Australia in state games, etc. These were the days when knee injuries pretty much ended careers.

 

[fabulousphil]

Peter Daicos required a full knee reco after seven matches of the 1985 season. He missed several games over the following two seasons, although in 1986 he polled 10 Brownlow votes in 16 matches. He was a gun from 1988 to 1990 and solid in 1991 and 1992.

Was going to mention Daicos and Matthew Richardson

 

[windyhill]

Tim Watson did the full knee and came back very well, may have lost a touch of explosiveness but was still damn good. Darren Bewick kicked nine goals in his return from a full year out after doing his knee. Michael Long did his knee in the Bewick game. He actually did his knee three times. Bomber Thompson did his and came back and captained a premiership. Mark Harvey did his and didn't miss a beat after coming back. John Coleman did his in the wrong era,that was it for him and cost Essendon dearly.
I know I'm forgetting some names, it got to the point that if you were a gun and played for E.F.C be prepared to do your knee. Neale Daniher did his three times and never made it back to how he was performing pre-knee no.1 (brilliantly)

 

[Obi fella]

Tim Watson did the full knee and came back very well, may have lost a touch of explosiveness but was still damn good. Darren Bewick kicked nine goals in his return from a full year out after doing his knee. Michael Long did his knee in the Bewick game. He actually did his knee three times. Bomber Thompson did his and came back and captained a premiership. Mark Harvey did his and didn't miss a beat after coming back. John Coleman did his in the wrong era,that was it for him and cost Essendon dearly.
I know I'm forgetting some names, it got to the point that if you were a gun and played for E.F.C be prepared to do your knee. Neale Daniher did his three times and never made it back to how he was performing pre-knee no.1 (brilliantly)

I remember the Dons were red hot favourites for a 3 peat in '86 until Watson went down with his knee. He was that important.
I also remember Bewick's 9 goals in his comeback game. He was amazing. I purchased the rare jumper Essendon were wearing that night on the back of his performance. I have posted this in another thread somewhere. Not PI.