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Scans confirm Grant's season over
1:26:05 PM Mon 31 March, 2003
Angus Morgan and Matt Burgan
afl.com.au
Western Bulldogs skipper Chris Grant has vowed to return stronger than ever after confirmation on Monday of the inevitable – that he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the 2003 season.
Grant’s knee twisted on landing during a marking contest just before three quarter time in the Bulldogs’ big win over Geelong in Sunday's season opener at Telstra Dome.
His joint was scanned at The Avenue private hospital in Windsor on Monday morning, and as soon as the results were clear, the 30 year-old veteran of 274 games bravely fronted the media, flanked by club doctor Gary Zimmerman.
“The scans have confirmed that Chris has torn his right anterior cruciate ligament and will require a knee reconstruction, which will take place later in the week,” Dr Zimmerman said.
“The plan is that he will miss the rest of the season so that we can get him right for next year.”
Grant was philosophical about his setback, and optimistic about the prospect of coming back.
“Obviously I’m disappointed. There wasn’t much of a chance of coming here today and finding out anything different,” Grant said.
“But I’ve got the confirmed bad news now, and unfortunately, I’ll miss this year and get ready for next year.”
“I’m 30, but over the course of my career, I’ve had a pretty good run. I’ve had no major things until yesterday, and the body feels good, so there’s no reason why I can’t come back to where I was and if anything, the knee is going to be stronger,” he said.
Grant said that when he suffered the injury, he knew immediately it was serious.
“At the time I knew something was pretty wrong. I heard a bit of a snap and a crunch and there was a fair bit of pain,” he said.
After a career during which he was acclaimed as one of the finest key forwards of his generation, Grant had been earmarked for a role in defence in 2003, to help make up for the Bulldogs' lack of height down back.
New coach Peter Rohde has already started planning for life without Chris Grant – on the field at least – in 2003.
“There’s no doubt that he’s a pretty good player and he was playing pretty well and we’ll certainly miss any player that isn’t available for us,” Rohde said after yesterday’s win.
“Probably one thing we talked about a hell-of-a-lot through the pre-season is that we want 22 contributors every week and we don’t want to rely on any one player.”
Rohde added that Grant’s injury was a timely reminder for the players to make the most of their opportunities during their career.
“The psychology side of it is another issue and he’s obviously very highly regarded within the playing group and within the club."
"There’s no doubt that we’re all feeling for him at the moment, because he’s had a very big pre-season and he was very determined to have a good 2003 season and it just proves that it’s a very fickle world,” Rohde said.
“I suppose it puts the whole thing in perspective in lots of ways doesn’t it?”
1:26:05 PM Mon 31 March, 2003
Angus Morgan and Matt Burgan
afl.com.au
Western Bulldogs skipper Chris Grant has vowed to return stronger than ever after confirmation on Monday of the inevitable – that he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the 2003 season.
Grant’s knee twisted on landing during a marking contest just before three quarter time in the Bulldogs’ big win over Geelong in Sunday's season opener at Telstra Dome.
His joint was scanned at The Avenue private hospital in Windsor on Monday morning, and as soon as the results were clear, the 30 year-old veteran of 274 games bravely fronted the media, flanked by club doctor Gary Zimmerman.
“The scans have confirmed that Chris has torn his right anterior cruciate ligament and will require a knee reconstruction, which will take place later in the week,” Dr Zimmerman said.
“The plan is that he will miss the rest of the season so that we can get him right for next year.”
Grant was philosophical about his setback, and optimistic about the prospect of coming back.
“Obviously I’m disappointed. There wasn’t much of a chance of coming here today and finding out anything different,” Grant said.
“But I’ve got the confirmed bad news now, and unfortunately, I’ll miss this year and get ready for next year.”
“I’m 30, but over the course of my career, I’ve had a pretty good run. I’ve had no major things until yesterday, and the body feels good, so there’s no reason why I can’t come back to where I was and if anything, the knee is going to be stronger,” he said.
Grant said that when he suffered the injury, he knew immediately it was serious.
“At the time I knew something was pretty wrong. I heard a bit of a snap and a crunch and there was a fair bit of pain,” he said.
After a career during which he was acclaimed as one of the finest key forwards of his generation, Grant had been earmarked for a role in defence in 2003, to help make up for the Bulldogs' lack of height down back.
New coach Peter Rohde has already started planning for life without Chris Grant – on the field at least – in 2003.
“There’s no doubt that he’s a pretty good player and he was playing pretty well and we’ll certainly miss any player that isn’t available for us,” Rohde said after yesterday’s win.
“Probably one thing we talked about a hell-of-a-lot through the pre-season is that we want 22 contributors every week and we don’t want to rely on any one player.”
Rohde added that Grant’s injury was a timely reminder for the players to make the most of their opportunities during their career.
“The psychology side of it is another issue and he’s obviously very highly regarded within the playing group and within the club."
"There’s no doubt that we’re all feeling for him at the moment, because he’s had a very big pre-season and he was very determined to have a good 2003 season and it just proves that it’s a very fickle world,” Rohde said.
“I suppose it puts the whole thing in perspective in lots of ways doesn’t it?”

