North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey back training after heart surgery

North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey’s heart would race, forcing him to come from the field and lie down. But with the issue now hopefully behind him, he’s keen to kick on.

Nick Larkey is back after surgery to correct a heart condition. Pic: AAP

North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey is confident the heart issues that struck him during games this year are behind him after undergoing surgery last week.

Larkey has returned to training after he underwent a procedure to correct the heart palpitations he experienced at times during the 2019 season.

The young goalkicker said the procedure had been trouble-free and he was now “feeling good” and ready to launch into his pre-season.

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Nick Larkey was back at Arden St. Pic: AAP

“It was just like a tiny little hair hole in it, I think it is actually a pretty common procedure, they do about 150-odd a year, the surgeon was saying,” Larkey said at Arden St on Friday.

“They go through your leg, which is amazing, and then they come up, find the hole and then burn over it and then come out.

“It was over in about an hour. Stayed in overnight and now feeling good.”

Larkey had managed the condition during the year, describing the episodes as random. It would cause his heart rate to elevate rapidly.

“My heart rate would go from real low sometimes to real quick just like that,” Larkey said.

“You would have to come off, lie down and then it would go back to normal.

“It wasn’t life-threatening or anything, it made you feel a bit dizzy and it was all better when you laid flat on the ground.

“I noticed it in my first year (2017) and the episodes were few and far between … it wasn’t something that happened all the time. It was pretty random, actually.

“It’s sort of comforting knowing that it’s a common thing.”

Larkey booted 26 goals from 17 matches in 2019. Pic: Michael Klein

Larkey planned to ease back into training, but the 21-year-old did not expect his pre-season training program would have to be “too load managed”.

Asked if having the condition corrected would allow him to take his running to a new level, Larkey joked “hopefully that was the problem”.

“I think I still need to work hard to be a better runner,” he said. “That’s what this pre-season is all about, so let’s hope it helps.

“There is plenty of things I need to work on in my game and I suppose endurance is one of them.”

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Larkey kicked 26 goals in his 17 games for the Kangaroos in 2019 and was rewarded for a breakout season with a two-year contract extension in July.

The 198cm forward said he was relishing working alongside Kangaroos spearhead Ben Brown.

“I love it. He is a ripping fella, nice guy and he is just so keen to make everyone feel better.” Larkey said.

“In our eyes here he should be a dual All-Australian and dual Coleman (medallist) … he has been very stiff, but never lets that stuff get in the way, he is all about the team.

“In my opinion he is the best goalkicker in the league, so to learn off someone like him is a privilege.”

Originally published as North Melbourne forward Nick Larkey back training after heart surgery