Superstar ACL injuries

[Daniltchenko You Beauty]

OP was asking for players who came back.I provided a few, there would be heaps of players who never came back from knees, top level, local level. Ron Andrews was never the same, Robert Hyde, Micheal McClean, Chris Judd, Chris Judd !! John Coleman. John Coleman !!

Different era. Treatment has exponentially improved.

 

[HairyO]

Peter Hudson did he knee in 1972. Pretty sure it was an ACL. Missed 4 years of football. Came back in 1977 and kicked 110 goals.

Also managed 580 goals in 80 games in the Tassie league.

 

[windyhill]

Different era. Treatment has exponentially improved.

Correct. Would you dispute Chris Judd ?

 

[Occidental]

Brian Gleeson. Debuts at 17, wins Brownlow at 22. Blows knee next pre season, never played another game after winning the Brownlow.
Here he receives the 1957 Brownlow.
Never played again.

 

[banzai]

Correct. Would you dispute Chris Judd ?

But Judd was retiring anyway at the end of the year wasnt he? So he never attempted a comeback.

Rance likewise could have played again but chose not to so its hard to know what would have happened post ACL.

 

[windyhill]

But Judd was retiring anyway at the end of the year wasnt he? So he never attempted a comeback.

Rance likewise could have played again but chose not to so its hard to know what would have happened post ACL.

He wasn’t until the knee happened. His ongoing problem was the groins.

 

[South of the Yarra]

Peter Daicos did an ACL and post op had seasons of 97 goals, 75 goals and 52 goals from a HFF

 

[BF Tiger]

Is LARS still a thing?

 

[the harry]

He wasn’t until the knee happened. His ongoing problem was the groins.

He's going to rehab his butt off at 33 to come back and play for Carlton just after they've sacked another coach? For what purpose? 300 games?

 

[PCORF]

Taylor Walker

13

Taylor Walker

Age

35

Ht

192cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.0

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.7

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

1.6

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.6

5star

Brodie Smith

33

Brodie Smith

Age

33

Ht

194cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.5

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.2

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

500.1

5star

D

17.1

4star

K

12.6

5star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.5

3star

T

2.3

3star

MG

438.9

5star

D

17.2

5star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.6

5star

Tex had his career best season 8 years afterwards.

2021 was one of his best years, would have kicked 55+ goals if not for that infamous brain fade. May have even been a slight chance at the Coleman as well. But 2012 Tex was almost unstoppable.

 

[PCORF]

Oh and how could I forget - Nic Naitanui - 2 ACLs and THEN played his best footy.

Left knee and right knee. Both non contact injuries.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Left knee and right knee. Both non contact injuries.

I remember them well…sadly…

Still remember watching on at Subi when he over extended to reach a contest and did it the first time.

 

[Quinz]

Is LARS still a thing?

Seems like it's fallen out of favour doesn't it? The recovery rate for traditional ACLs is pretty decent these days and footy clubs are pretty conservative with injury recovery.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Is LARS still a thing?

Whatever happened to LARS? The miracle ACL surgery that was too good to be true

 

[BF Tiger]

Seems like it's fallen out of favour doesn't it? The recovery rate for traditional ACLs is pretty decent these days and footy clubs are pretty conservative with injury recovery.

Definitely out of favour, and reading Ron’s link above it’s no surprise. Still, it’s all added to the knowledge base and I guess could be part of the next leap forward. Might still be an option for the 30+ athlete whose team is in contention and looking for the fairytale ending.

 

[Belnakor]

Definitely out of favour, and reading Ron’s link above it’s no surprise. Still, it’s all added to the knowledge base and I guess could be part of the next leap forward. Might still be an option for the 30+ athlete whose team is in contention and looking for the fairytale ending.

i think it was always billed as that - simply a way to get back quickly in your last year with no other options.

It worked well for David Rodan.

 

[BF Tiger]

i think it was always billed as that - simply a way to get back quickly in your last year with no other options.

It worked well for David Rodan.

At that time it was. I’m thinking that if it had been successful long-term for those in the 30+ age bracket the science might have been advanced in the decade since where 18 year olds might have been opting for it.

 

[Cam1967]

Doug Hawkins

 

[Proper Gander]

Jake Lever

8

Jake Lever

Age

29

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.6

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

4.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.3

3star

MG

242.0

4star

D

9.6

2star

K

6.5

3star

HB

3.1

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

2star

MG

145.4

3star

D

16.0

4star

K

11.0

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

6.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

189.8

4star

seems to have recaptured his form

 

[Tulip]

There’s really not. Menzel and Johnson examples of chronic cases.

Looking through the rest of this thread, almost every other player has recovered without issue.

Broken legs, Achilles, stress fractures on the other hand…

Geelong had another player around that time who did a few I believe. David Schwarz did three.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Goddards best footy came well after doing his ACL.

 

[Wallaby]

Brian Gleeson. Debuts at 17, wins Brownlow at 22. Blows knee next pre season, never played another game after winning the Brownlow.
Here he receives the 1957 Brownlow.
Never played again.
View attachment 1229163

Maybe not quite the same level, but Frank Bourke (father of Francis) was a bit similar.
1943 - played 1 game (on leave from RAAF).
1944 - did not play
1945 - did not play
1946 - Played first 10 games - kicks 40 goals, leading the league goalkicking, does knee in Rd 11.
1947 - Makes comeback in Rd 1, struggles, misses 10 more games, retires at season end.

 

[yamborghinidream]

Achilles injuries are the 'new' ACL. Not many come back from that. The surgery is a nightmare - like trying to stitch together the bristles on a toothbrush I'm told

 

[SSwans2011]

Already a pretty comprehensive list, but Nick Malceski

Nick Malceski

Age

41

Ht

189cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.7

5star

K

13.1

5star

HB

5.6

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

342.5

5star

No current season stats available

D

6.4

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.6

3star

is another. From memory returned really quickly after undergoing LARS, but may have been lucky given that route has since fallen out-of-favour.

 

[lumpinee]

Doug Hawkins

wasnt quite the same
same as Templeton unfortunately