Dan Ward returns to football field for Hope Valley five years after being hit by truck

DAN Ward simply wanted to retire from football on his own terms. That’s why he returned to the field for Hope Valley five years after being hit by a truck on the South Eastern Freeway.

21/05/15 - Dan Ward was hit by a truck on the Southeastern Freeway five years ago, was lucky to survive and doctors told him he'd never play footy again. But this month he made a one-off comeback for Hope Valley - the club where he was A grade captain at the time of the incident. Picture Dean Martin

DAN Ward simply wanted to retire from football on his own terms with his son Harry watching from the sidelines.

It is why Ward, now 30, returned to the field for his beloved Hope Valley Demons on May 2 – a little less than five years after being lucky to survive a truck hitting him while he was changing a tyre on the South Eastern Freeway.

He dislocated both knees in the incident, required a major operation to rebuild them and was in hospital for about a month.

But the Paracombe resident defied doctors’ orders and made his comeback in the club’s division eight reserves side against SMOSH West Lakes at Hope Valley Oval.

His wife Nikki was “absolutely ropeable” but she was in the crowd with Harry, 1.

“That was the hardest thing since the accident, not being able to play footy,” Ward says.

“I was told I was an idiot if I ran around and played sport again.

“But I just wanted to get out on my own terms.

“I’ve always wanted Harry to see me play one more game.

“It was unbelievable to be out there.

“Nikki brought the little tacker, realised there wasn’t anything she could say to stop me and just made sure the trainer taped on as much tape as they possibly could to my knees.”

Ward, who joined Hope Valley in under-16s, was the club’s A-grade captain at the time of the accident in 2010.

Bystander John Posnakidis was killed in the crash and Ward knows he was incredibly lucky.

“The good lord was looking after me that day, that’s for sure.”

Ward says his decision to pull on the boots again was prompted by the club being short of players that weekend.

Despite Hope Valley losing by 118 points, Ward cherished the chance to play one last time with his mates.

“My legs are absolutely trashed and I can barely run and jump any more.

“I got a couple of kicks, laid a few of my trademark tackles ... and I’m happy just to get away in one piece.

“We got absolutely flogged. But I bloody enjoyed it.”