Roosters rover Chad O'Sullivan back to full strength after breaking leg in 2009 grand final

NORTH Adelaide on-baller Chad O'Sullivan never doubted he would play again after having his left leg seriously broken in the 2009 grand final.

NORTH Adelaide on-baller Chad O'Sullivan never doubted he would play again after having his left leg seriously broken in the 2009 grand final.

Even when told by the doctor his career could be over, O'Sullivan became more determined to return to action.

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O'Sullivan broke two bones in his leg in the opening quarter while playing for Central District against Sturt in the premiership decider and was immediately taken to hospital for surgery.

"I never doubted I would play again,'' O'Sullivan said.

"The doctor said I wouldn't and people were writing me off straight after the accident.

"It was a matter of me getting out there and doing it, seeing what the pain comfort was like. I went through a lot of pain and hard work.''

O'Sullivan missed the 2010 season and required three more operations before he finally made a comeback for the Bulldogs.

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The three-time premiership player and 2008 Bulldogs best and fairest made his sixth appearance in a grand final in the loss to Woodville-West Torrens in 2011.

"I was a bit ify coming back for my first game and I thought 'I hope it improves','' O'Sullivan said. "And it has each year.''

After the Bulldogs dropped out of last year's final series following back-to-back losses, O'Sullivan was cut by the club and he moved down Main North Rd to the Roosters.

Roosters coach Josh Francou used him in attack for the first half of the season before he was effectively melded into the midfield rotations.

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O'Sullivan gained some satisfaction in the elimination final when the Roosters ousted the Bulldogs from the title race although the rover said he had nothing to prove to his former club.

"This is my fourth year since breaking the leg and it feels almost 100 per cent now,'' O'Sullivan said.

"I feel fit and strong and ready to go.

"I'm very confident I'm back to the form I had before the injury.

"Josh Francou is a wonderful coach and (Roosters assistant coach) Matthew Slade is an old team-mate at the Bulldogs so that made the move to North easy.''

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