MPNFL 2019: Sorrento captain James Hallahan hoping to cap comeback with premiership glory
Thirteen weeks after rupturing his ACL, Sorrento captain James Hallahan will lead his side in Sunday’s MPNFL Division 1 grand final.
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Sorrento captain James Hallahan says it would be “unbelievable” to lift the premiership cup on Sunday — 13 weeks after rupturing his ACL.
The 28-year-old will lead the Sharks into battle against Dromana in the MPNFL Division 1 grand final at Frankston Park.
If the minor premiers Sorrento win, it would put the cap on one of football’s great comeback stories.
“I was down and out 13 weeks ago,” Hallahan said.
Hallahan properly did his right knee against Pines on June 16.
Scans confirmed the worst — a ruptured ACL.
But Hallahan resisted seeing a surgeon — “I knew what he’d say” — and two days later told his brother Mitch that he’d be back playing alongside him in finals.
Opting against surgery, Hallahan embarked on an arduous two-sessions-a-day rehabilitation program to strengthen the knee.
And on August 17 — 62 days after blowing out his knee — he returned to playing.
Hallahan has played two games since — he was in the best players in the first — and says he feels great.
“The knee’s good,” he said.
“It’s gone from strength to strength.
“The final I played two weeks ago against Dromana I just felt so much better in my body again.
“It’s almost to the point where I don’t even think I’ve got a knee injury any more. It feels strong and I’m so confident in it.”
Hallahan hasn’t had a beer since injuring his knee — he wanted to give himself every chance to get back.
“I just thought to myself, gee, if I’m doing all this work and everyone says the more beer or alcohol you drink the worse it is for swelling, I thought if I can give the grog up for three months, well, I’m going to put myself in the best position to get back,” he said.
“And when I got back I thought what’s the point of having a beer now, let’s just wait and make it that much sweeter.”
Sorrento is looking to atone for a heartbreaking one-point loss to Pines in last year’s grand final.
Hallahan said the pain of that defeat had driven the Sharks this season.
His younger brother Mitch, the former Hawthorn and Gold Coast player, has been superb this season for Sorrento, winning the league medal. James spoke of their close relationship and their ambition to play in a premiership together.
“We are best mates, we are only 18 months apart. I’m older,” James said.
“We grew up kicking the footy in the backyard.
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“He went to the big league and I didn’t see a lot of him for probably seven years — he had four years in Melbourne and three years up on the (Gold) Coast. We were always very close throughout that, best mates who didn’t see a lot of each other. But now there wouldn’t be a day when we don’t see each other.
“To be actually running around together on that field is awesome.”