‘I’m keen to play’: How Cheltenham’s Myke Cook pushed through ruptured ACL for premiership

Myke Cook tore his ACL in August but this week the former Adelaide Crow played a starring role in ending a Melbourne footy club’s 89-year premiership drought. Read his amazing story.

Myke Cook pushed through ruptured ACL for premiership glory with Cheltenham.

Myke Cook considers himself lucky.

During Cheltenham’s round 15 win over Springvale Districts in Melbourne’s Southern Football League, Cook completely ruptured his ACL.

But the way the former Adelaide Crow saw it, unlike the ACL he did at the start of 2019, there was no damage to the surrounding areas of his knee.

He opted against surgery, and for playing on.

“I was lucky that it was a clean snap in a sense, there wasn’t too much damage around it with the meniscus,” Cook said.

“There was bone bruising but that was kind of all the pain that remained throughout.

“I was lucky… well, lucky to an extent.”

Myke Cook. Picture: Andrew Keech

Cook flies for a mark. Picture: Andrew Keech

Cook, 34 next month, has had a fruitful career, playing 14 games of AFL as well as 125 at state level with the Crows in the SANFL and Sandringham in the VFL.

Knowing his footy is closer to its end than its beginning, Cook was swift to dismiss suggestions that his injury would stamp an end to his season.

“I was quite quick to say ‘I am not having surgery yet – I’m keen to play’,” he said.

“Des (Ryan) was in agreeance quite quickly, so was the physio and a couple of other people I had spoken to in regards in to how it could play out.

“Behind the scenes there was a lot going on, I was pretty much able to do full training – which was good as well – but it took a bit of a mental toll not rolling up and being able to do what I normally do.

“Initially it took away some lateral movement but to be honest, the last two or three games I started getting able to get a bit of agility back.

“I obviously wasn’t to my full extent but it was enough to make an impact, which I was happy with.”

Cook in action for Adelaide. (AAP Image/Ben Macmahon)

Cook chases a kick for Sandringham.

A reconstruction would have Cook on the sidelines for a year and trying to break back into the Rosellas’ side at age 35.

He knows now would be a perfect finish to his career but admits the euphoria of Cheltenham’s grand-final win has him second-guessing.

“That’s the last piece of my footy puzzle, that’s for sure, that’s the one I’ve been wanting,” he said.

“You could hang the boots up now but after a game like that, it’s like whoa, you could chase another game like that.

“It’s looking like no more footy, but that’s what I said at the end of last year – anything could happen.

“I have to sit down with a few people and discuss.”

The Rosellas players toast to their first Division 1 title in 89 years. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Cook played a role in the Rosellas’ jaw-dropping comeback, kicking one of his side’s four goals in the final term.

He mightn’t finish his career with the individual accolades some may expect from a player of his ability, but he added something everywhere he went.

And to him, that’s what matters most.

“It’s funny, someone said to me the other day ‘you didn’t win any best and fairests’, I just said ‘I was able to contribute wherever I went, and that’s what I wanted’,” he said.

“Every kid wants Brownlow’s and best and fairests and everything like that.

“But at the end of the day it’s a team sport, so to walk away with a flag at the end is definitely the final piece of the puzzle.”