Jake Sutcliffe takes a challenging road back to Sturt league side

JAKE Sutcliffe, a premiership hero with Sturt last season, talks about the bad place where his mind had wandered after the opening round this season.

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JAKE Sutcliffe, a premiership hero with Sturt last season, talks about the bad place where his mind had wandered after the opening round this season.

The pre-season had been a nightmare and he was forced to the bench just six minutes into the reserves game against Norwood.

Before the game he knew his left knee was not good, but he said he was stubborn and hoped the adrenaline would kick in and he would be okay once the game started. It didn’t happen.

Sutcliffe admits he seriously considered ending his career, frustrated at not knowing what was wrong with his knee.

Sturt’s Jake Sutcliffe gets his kick away from Port’s Jimmy Toumpas. Picture: SARAH REED

The strong-marking forward recalls getting a knock to his knee against Port Adelaide in round 10 last year. It was nothing serious, he thought, but as the season lengthened so to did the knee deteriorate and he was forced to miss the first semi-final win over Central District.

Sutcliffe returned for the preliminary final and then the grand final when the Double Blues conquered Port to secure back-to-back premierships.

The good times were short-lived for Sutcliffe, however. Surgery discovered a small defect in the knee, most likely the result of that round 10 knock.

“I had the surgery but it was all down hill from there,” Sutcliffe lamented.

“That was on October 29 and I was supposed to miss only two weeks of pre-season and I’d be back all good.

“Come Christmas and even straight line running still hurt. I had two cortisone injections and then an injection to pump in artificial cartilage, all to no avail. I lost 6cm around the quad from muscle deteriation.

“Then there was a wonder drug we got through the government and 12 injections over a six-week period. It has been a constant rehab for four months, six and seven days a week.”

Sturt’s Jake Sutcliffe gets past Port Adelaide’s Jarrod Lienert. Picture: SARAH REED

What has been most frustrating for Sutcliffe is not knowing the issue with the knee.

There have been the scans, the surgery and the specialist treatment, but no answer.

“The hardest part was not having a time line,” he said. “It’s not like you have an injury and they say it is a four week recovery and you will be right. It was definitely long term, but at the same time take it week by week. I did not know what the go was and I was close to pulling up stumps.”

It is not the first time he has almost quit the sport.

Playing in his home town of Murray Bridge, Sutcliffe decided to hang up the boots at the end of 2013, confessing his head was not switched on and he was devoid of love for the game.

Former Adelaide state league coach Heath Younie convinced him to play for the Crows, however, and he played the first six games before a hamstring injury ended his season.

Again he questioned his enjoyment for the game and decided to do some travelling. This time it was his mates who pushed him to front for Ramblers, he knuckled down and had a productive season in the club’s unbeaten run to the flag.

After being in the Adelaide Oval stands watching the Double Blues claim the 2016 flag, he knew what he wanted and he turned up at Unley Oval the following season.

“Last season, I finally strung some good games together and started playing football on my terms,” he said. “I fell in love with the game again.”

Sutcliffe has played in the reserves the past two weeks and his game time was increased from a half to 75 per cent. Five goals in those two weeks have earned him promotion to a 23-man squad for the game against Adelaide at Unley Oval on Sunday.

Asked how he felt about being in the league squad he responded: “You have no idea, it is incredible.

“It will be a surreal feeling to run out if I am in the 21. Blokes like Zane Kirkwood and Jack Stephens have helped me get through and I have a very supportive family

“But I can’t stop rehabing.”

SUNDAY

Port Adelaide v Norwood

Alberton Oval, 2.10pm

Radio: 107 LifeFM

Sturt v Adelaide

Peter Motley Oval, 2.10pm