Sam Day is stunning Gold Coast coaches and teammates with his comeback from hip injury

SAM Day is staking a claim to be the best Queensland footy story of the year as he stuns his coaches and teammates with his form since coming back from career threatening hip injury.

Sam Day in action during Gold Coast’s loss to the Bulldogs.

SAM Day is staking a claim to be the best Queensland footy story of the year as he stuns his coaches and teammates with his form since coming back from career threatening hip injury.

As recent as late last season former coach Rodney Eade spoke of is fears Day would never play again yet he has returned a better player.

He is attacking the ball in the air better than ever and has noticeably come out of his shell as an on-field leader.

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“I am naturally quiet, but on the field I need to be louder and I feel like I see the game pretty well and that gives me the confidence to set my teammates up,” he said.

Day dislocated his hip while trying to gather a ground ball in Gold Coast’s first JLT Community Series game against Brisbane at Broadbeach last year.

He appeared to hyper-extend his knee and such was the force it drove his leg through the back of his hip, cracking off a chunk of bone in the process.

Sam Day celebrates a goal with David Swallow.

He had complicated surgery where two large screws were inserted to re-attach the broken bone and he was unable to put any weight on the leg for two months.

Although he never shared Eade’s concerns and always thought he would get back one day, he has surprised himself with how quickly it has happened and also the way he is able to recover from games.

He is loving his footy.

“You realise how much something means to you when it is taken from you,’ he said.

“But it is also the environment Stuey has created and the playing group has responded to that.’’

Although he hasn’t reached peak fitness yet and feels his touch could improve, he is happy with his form too.

Sam Day attempts to mark over Lewis Young.

“I feel like I am contributing to the team and the role I’m playing is really important,’’ he said.

“I’m getting to a lot of contests.

“I wasn’t handling the footy as much during my recovery as I was focusing on the physical side of things, but I feel like I am getting my touch back, I’ve spilt a couple I’ve gotten my hands on that I’d like to hold on to but I’ve taken a few contested marks.’’

Day is considered the most selfless player at the Suns and his instinct is always to try to bring a team mate into the game somehow.

But he is a beautiful set shot and is improving his marking and his coaches and team mates are telling him they want him to the responsibility himself.

“I am working on it, demanding the footy and if I get a mark anywhere inside 50m to go back and have a shot,’’ he said.

“In the end if I am kicking goals that is helping the team so it is not selfish.’’

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Originally published as Sam Day is stunning Gold Coast coaches and teammates with his comeback from hip injury