Grovedale captain Nathan Deans to return to GFL football after knee injury

It has been a long time between games for Grovedale captain Nathan Deans, but the Tigers skipper will return this weekend. Read about his road back here.

Football GFL: Geelong West v Grovedale. Grovedale 13 Nathan Deans Picture: Mark Wilson

Grovedale captain Nathan Deans says he never contemplated retirement after his horrific injury in 2021 as the Mathieson Medalist prepares to lead the Tigers out for his first game back.

Deans was compared to a car crash victim after a contest against Bell Park on July 10, 2021, which left him with several ruptured ligaments including an ACL.

But despite the 21-month journey back to playing football, Deans said the thought of finishing his GFL career on 157 games never crossed his mind.

“Pretty much I’ve always wanted to return from the get-go, once you get into the rehab and start to progress I found myself wanting to play again,” he said.

“I didn’t find the rehab too challenging, I think the biggest thing for most people coming back is doing all that recovery and it hasn’t really phased me to do it.

GFL: Grovedale v Bell Park Senior Football.Grovedale 13 Nathan Deans is tackled by Bell Park 8 Jackson Sheringham Picture: Mark Wilson

“I just love being around the club, the volunteers, the players and the supporters, so it just enticed me to get back playing.

“If I felt like my body wasn’t up to it I would’ve pulled the pin, but I still think I’ve got a bit more to give.”

The round 1 clash with South Barwon will not be the first time Deans has stepped onto a football field for a game since his injury, with two pre-season practice matches under his belt.

Deans said the knee had pulled up fine so far after games, but the mental battle with contesting the football was still lingering.

“It’s been pretty good the whole way through, there’s been no issues or swelling, everything’s been going really well,” he said.

“The increased loads over the pre-season can bring some soreness, but that’s pretty normal as I’ve been building into the year, so it’s just something I’ve been watching.

“The mental side of it has probably been the biggest thing, probably early on trying to get over that thought of ‘is it going to hold up?’.

“The more work you do the more confidence you get in it though, when it came to the praccies you just want to get through them more than anything.

“It certainly still sits in your mind, but I think once you get out there for round 1 and it means something, the mind probably goes away from the worry around it and it’s just that natural football action again.

“The more game time I have the more I get confidence in it, so I’m just looking forward to that first contest now and moving on from there.”

Originally published as Grovedale captain Nathan Deans to return to GFL football after knee injury