EFL 2019: Chris Phelan overcomes broken jaw to play in Doncaster East premiership
Doncaster East star Chris Phelan had been on a soup diet since suffering a broken jaw on August 3 but finished the season as a premiership player after being named as a shock inclusion for the EFL Division 1 grand final.
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Doncaster East star Chris Phelan played in the EFL Division 1 grand final without eating solid food since breaking his jaw more than a month ago.
Phelan had been a soup diet since suffering the injury on August 3 and lost between six and seven kilograms, but was a shock inclusion for Saturday’s decider against Croydon.
He had his jaw broken in two places and underwent surgery after he was collected high in the Round 16 game against Knox.
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The Subiaco great was not named in the Lions’ side during the week, was not listed on the team sheet and not included as one of the emergencies.
And the celebrations start for @DoncasterEastFC! pic.twitter.com/N6H3lCf7AY
— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) September 14, 2019
Doncaster East will be fined $160 for the move — a small price to pay for a premiership.
Doncaster East coach Steve Buckle conceded the tactics to keep Croydon in the dark as to whether Phelan would play were “shifty”.
He said after the semi-final victory that it was unlikely the three-time WAFL premiership star would take his place in the side.
Phelan finished with three majors to be an important player in the decider, helping lift the Lions into the top flight for the first time in club history.
Doncaster East won the game, 14.20 (104) to 9.14 (68).
“I was keeping myself fit on the off chance I’d be able to play,” Phelan said.
“I had a week off where I was pretty sore and after that I was back into it keeping myself as fit as possible because you never know what can happen.
“It’s always good to play in a grand final — they don’t come around every day so I gave myself every opportunity.”
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Phelan said he had doubts on the day of the game that he would be right to play.
It was only once he sought a second opinion from a doctor that he was given the all clear.
“It (the injury) was in the back of my mind early but once I started playing I was pretty sweet because you’ve got to focus on playing,” he said.
“Up until the first bounce I was a little bit worried.”
Buckle said Phelan trained away from the group in preparation for the grand final.
“It sounds a lot like cloak and daggers but he was behind closed doors doing private training sessions and boxing to get himself right,” Buckle said.
“He was working his backside off and then he was coming down to training probably the last two weeks to get that touch back.”
Buckle informed the playing group on Tuesday night that Phelan would be included and to keep the shock selection news under wraps.
“If it took Croydon’s focus off what they came in planning … then we would take that,” he said.
“It was probably a little bit over the top but I think it worked.
“They were still asking questions right up until the door knock trying to find out if Chris was playing or not.
“We held the team sheet back. I know it’s a bit shifty but it’s sheep stations you’re playing for and any advantage you can get, you take.”
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