Adelaide Crows player Brent Reilly speaks about his head injury at training

ADELAIDE rebounding defender Brent Reilly has spoken for the first time since injuring himself in a potentially life-altering training accident. WATCH THE VIDEO

Crows player Brent Reilly speaks about his recent head injury

ADELAIDE midfielder Brent Reilly has spoken out for the first time since injuring himself in a career-threatening and potentially life-altering training accident earlier this season.

Reilly, 31, suffered several breaks to his skull after a teammate’s knee struck him on the side of his head in a ground-ball training drill on February 9.

He was rushed to intensive care at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and sedated while a plate was inserted to stabilise his injury, but has since been discharged and made more than one visit to the football club as he recovers.

Teammates were taken aback by his injury as he returned to the club — he has a scar and the nerves on the left side of his face were damaged. He also sees a speech therapist twice a week.

But he was in good spirits with club staff today, as seen in the video posted on the Adelaide Football Club’s website.

“I’ve been doing a lot of rehab with some doctors and a neuropsychologist. I’ve also got a speech therapist that comes around twice a week,” Reilly said.

“I’m showing some good signs. I’m on the mend and I’m just looking forward to getting 100 per cent fit again.’’

It is still not known whether Reilly will recover to again play professional football.

Brent Reilly speaks about his recent head injury.

He said he was not in a position to predict whether his football career had come to an end after more than 200 games.

“At the moment, my health and fitness is more important than thinking about football,’’ Reilly said.

“I’ve been down the club helping the boys out a bit, but at the same time I have to look after myself.

“Hopefully, I can get a bit more involved helping ‘Walshy’ (coach Phil Walsh) and Darren Milburn and Jarrod Cotton in the defence.

“I want to help the boys out as much as I can, but at this stage I’m just looking after myself.

“My wife, Jamie, has been unbelievable. I knew she was tough, but she’s showed some things over the last month and a bit that I’ve never seen before.

“(I’d like to thank) my mum, dad and sister, Lauren, for coming over on short notice. It would’ve been a scary time on that flight over (from Melbourne) when they didn’t know what was going on. I appreciate all they’ve done … also Jamie’s parents and sister as well.

“Walshy, ‘Thommo’ (Scott Thompson) and ‘Tex’ (Taylor Walker). Thommo has been unbelievable in helping Jamie out. Tex has been a bit of a linchpin in telling the boys how I’m going.

“Our player development manager, Emma Bahr, has been excellent not just for me but also for Jamie and my parents. The AFLPA has also been great along with my manager, Peter Lenton. He’s been over a few times to have a chat and see how I’m going.

“My mentor Ray Spencer is almost like a second dad at the moment. He comes over once a week, sees how I’m going and takes me out and about to get me out of the house. I can’t thank those people enough and can’t wait to repay them.

“The AFL and football community as a whole have just been excellent.’’

At the time of Reilly’s injury, players were counselled by club doctor Andrew Potter as team chaplain Mark Purser and a sports psychologist remained on standby for players coming to terms with the confronting injury.