Essendon defender James Ferry overcomes two serious knee injuries in pursuit of his AFL dream

ESSENDON VFL defender James Ferry has graduated from the school of hard knocks with his faith still intact.

VFL footy: Essendon V Casey Scorpions , At Windy Hill, Essendon, Casey Scorpions won 16-11-107 v 10-14-74, James Ferry, 68, Essendon & William Petropoulos, 12, Casey Scorpions, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

JAMES Ferry has graduated from the school of hard knocks with his faith still intact.

The Essendon VFL defender’s time at TAC Cup club Calder Cannons was blighted by two serious knee injuries.

The Gisborne South resident has thought several times over the past four years about what life after football might hold and whether the tiresome rehabilitation would all be worth it.

On each occasion mental demons have tested Ferry’s resolve, his determination to make the most of his unquestionable talent has won out.

“Those injuries have brought me back level and really made me think of the things outside football that are really important in life,” Ferry said.

“It’s a bit character building if anything. I’ve hit a few lows and if anything I think I’ve bounced back a bit stronger.”

But Ferry has had enough of character-building injuries.

The 20-year-old joined Essendon in 2014, but failed to recover from his second anterior cruciate ligament injury in time to feature for the Bombers. Instead, he made his return to football with Essendon District Football League club Greenvale, featuring in the Jets’ reserves premiership team.

It represented a back-to-basics approach for Ferry, who simply wanted to enjoy football again after two frustratingly long stints out of the game.

“The seniors weren’t even playing, so I got to play in the twos grand final for Greenvale and that was grouse fun,” he said.

James Ferry had a tough run of injuries with Calder Cannons. Picture: News Limited.

With his love for the sport rediscovered, Ferry returned to Essendon for pre-season with a point to prove.

His determination was quickly recognised by Bombers VFL general manager Matt Little.

“He really does have a quality work ethic. He works hard on his body, on his rehab and he needs to,” Little said. “When you’ve got players who come in and they’ve had that injury-interrupted past they need to look after themselves.”

Ferry has managed nine games for Essendon in his first full year at VFL level, a greater tally than his injury-ravaged stint at Calder.

The backman, who is aligned with Riddell District Football League outfit Macedon, has been through too much to take the run of consecutive games for granted.

“Over the past four years, I think nine games is the most I’ve been able to string together,” he said.

“Over 4-5 years it’s been about maybe 17 games in total I’ve played and it’s been good to have nine in a row. Touch wood the injuries hold off.”

Ferry’s best game in the red and black came against Frankston in Round 9, when he collected 14 marks and 18 disposals in a 94-point victory.

James Ferry during his time at Calder Cannons. Picture: News Limited.

The performance sent a reminder to recruiters that a player considered good enough to be invited to the state draft screening while at Calder was worth another look.

“If everything keeps going well, then hopefully come November everything will go well and it could be a dream come true,” Ferry said.

Bombers VFL vice-captain Kyle Hardingham, who played 65 AFL matches for Essendon, has taken Ferry under his wing this year.

The Gisborne junior has soaked up every piece of advice the high-flying utility has given him about the top level in the hope it could one day come in handy.

“I pretty much stuck with him all pre-season,” he said.

Essendon vice-captain Kyle Hardingham has become one of James Ferry’s close allies. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

“I try and grab him because he’s come off a terrific career and played plenty of AFL games. He’s one guy that I’ve really looked up to and have wanted to try and take as much as I can off.”

Little said Ferry had the attributes to carve out a successful career.

“He’s got a really good engine, he’s quick off the mark, he reads the ball really well and can mark the ball from opposition kicks, which I think has increasingly become a bigger part of our game,” he said.