Wallaby Jack Dempsey to make a low-key return after almost a year on the sideline
JACK Dempsey’s world was turned upside down when he ripped his hamstring right off the bone last year. After 11 months out of the game, he’s finally ready to make his comeback.
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ELEVEN agonising months on the sideline have given Jack Dempsey a new perspective on life and rugby.
A year ago, he was the hottest young player in Australian rugby, named man of the match after helping Australia beat New Zealand in the third Bledisloe Cup Test.
Then fate intervened in the cruellest way. He was having another blinder, playing for the Wallabies against the Barbarians in a warm-up before the Spring Tour, when his leg got twisted in a tackle.
He knew straight away that it was bad because the pain was unbearable but he never realised just how grim the injury was. No-one did.
The doctors told him he had ripped his hamstring clean off the bone and would be out of action for up to five months but their initial diagnosis was wrong.
He had also damaged the sensitive nerves in his leg so the healing process ended up taking almost a year, tormenting and testing his mind as much as his body.
“It’s obviously been a bloody long time. To initially be given a five to six month window, then to have all these setbacks, it’s just been very frustrating,” he told the Saturday Telegraph.
“It’s been a real rollercoaster. There’s been some really positive days but also some really dark days where you just don’t know if you can keep getting back up after being knocked down again.”
The one really positive day that kept him going through the tough times has finally arrived after he was picked on the bench for the Sydney Rays in Saturday’s NRC clash with Brisbane City at Woollahra Oval.
Dempsey doesn’t know how long he’ll spend on the field or even what position he’ll play but the 24-year-old said none of that matters anymore after what he’s been through.
“I’m just happy to be able to play again,” he said.
“If everything goes to plan and no guys go down, I’m probably looking at about 20-30 minutes but if someone goes down early and I have to play 75 minutes I’m ready for that as well.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure what position I’ll play but I’m really not too fussed because I just want to get out there and take that first step to returning to full play.”
Dempsey’s return will be seen as a timely boost for the Waratahs and the Wallabies, who will be closely monitoring his progress, but the last year has taught him the importance of living in the moment.
“If you ask any Australian player, the ultimate goal is definitely the World Cup and I’m not immune to that goal but I think for me a lot has changed in the last 12 months,” he said.
“I used to be a big believer in setting goals and striving to reach them but this injury has put it all into perspective for me.
“My mindset has shifted since then so I’m very much focused just on the day ahead of me and not taking anything for granted or counting my chickens before they hatch.”
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