The footy stars whose careers have been crippled by injury
SYDNEY defender Alex Johnson’s heartbreaking knee injury adds to a long of footy stars whose careers have been crippled by devastating injuries. Here are some of the AFL’s unluckiest players.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SYDNEY defender Alex Johnson’s heartbreaking knee injury against Melbourne on the weekend adds to a long list of recent footy back luck stories.
Injuries almost certainly cost Cats defender Matthew Egan a premiership.
Who could forget luckless Essendon second draft pick Scott Gumbleton or the injury cruelled career of former Hawk Alex Woodward.
Here are some of footy’s most injury-prone players in recent years.
BAROMETER: CAN SWANS COVER THESE LOSSES?
DOOR OPEN FOR JOHNSON TO PLAY AGAIN
Alex Johnson
THE footy world collectively shed a tear when luckless Sydney defender Alex Johnson went down with another serious knee injury on Sunday.
In just his second game back after five knee reconstructions and a fight against an infection in his left knee, Johnson suffered yet another knee injury in the opening term of the clash against Melbourne.
This time it was to his “good” right knee.
Johnson was told the heartbreaking news by the club doctor as he lay on the MCG turf near the bench.
His future remains unclear, but the Swans have left the door ajar for him to play again.
Matthew Egan
HAS there been an unluckier player in recent football history than Matthew Egan?
The defender had been a key part of the Cats drought breaking 2007 season — winning All-Australian selection — before he fractured a bone in his foot in round 22.
He watched from the sidelines as the Cats went on to win the flag in 2007 and again in 2009.
Egan underwent several operations, but never returned to the field at any level.
He retired in 2009 after just 59 games and became an assistant coach at Geelong, before becoming caretaker senior coach at Essendon and head of player development at Melbourne.
Dan Menzel
FOUR knee reconstructions have cruelled the career of Geelong forward Daniel Menzel.
In 2011 he became a key component of a Cats team headed for its third flag in five years, but just like Egan, Menzel would miss his chance at premiership glory.
He ruptured his ACL in the qualifying final against Hawthorn.
Menzel didn’t play again until 2015 — 1450 days after his last game.
Things have looked a bit brighter for Menzel this year — he has kicked 23 goals in 10 games, including two bags of three since returning from a bad reaction to an injection in his groin.
The 26-year-old has been linked to a trade to St Kilda in recent days.
Scott Gumbleton
ESSENDON thought they had a ready replacement for the ageing forwards Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas when they picked up Scott Gumbleton with pick two in the 2006 draft.
His career got off to a good start with five games in his debut year 2007.
But chronic back and hamstring issues plagued his career — he didn’t play again until 2010 and had managed just 35 games before he was traded by Essendon in 2013.
He moved to Fremantle, but sadly was unable to play a game in 2014 and retired.
“It’s disappointing that footy didn’t work out the way I wanted it to, but I can’t fault myself for having a crack. I gave it all I had, it just didn’t work out,” he said.
Paddy McCartin
ST KILDA forward Paddy McCartin has had constant battles with concussion throughout his brief AFL career.
The 22-year-old has suffered seven concussions since the start of 2014.
His playing future hung in the balance following a sickening head knock in the VFL last June.
He did not play again in 2017 after that concussion.
But McCartin has managed 13 games this season to take his career total to 35.
Nathan Freeman
ANOTHER unlucky Saint, Nathan Freeman, finally made his debut earlier this month 1718 days after he was drafted by Collingwood.
Freeman suffered a series of hamstring injuries that required surgery.
The former pick number 10 was traded to St Kilda in the 2015 off-season.
In February he again hurt his hamstring at training and required surgery.
But Freeman was finally able to make his debut against the Bulldogs in Round 20.
Jon Patton
GWS forward Jon Patton’s career has been constantly interrupted by injuries.
The 25-year-old has done his ACL three times — most recently in July when he jumped for a mark and landed awkwardly at training.
Patton first tore his ACL in 2013 and missed the rest of the season.
In Round 21, 2014 he went down with another ACL injury.
Alex Woodward
FORMER Hawk Alex Woodward is among the AFL’s unluckiest players having undergone four knee reconstructions.
The 25-year-old required reconstructions on his right knee in 2012 and 2013.
He made his AFL debut in 2014 and played two games, before again doing his ACL in 2015.
Woodward signed with the Magpies VFL side in 2017, but again suffered a knee injury in just his third game with the club.
Woodward returned to the field against Williamstown last month.
Expert trade Q&A: Why are the Bombers so quiet?
Essendon has been suspiciously quiet this AFL trade period. Is something brewing? Replay the expert Q&A and FOLLOW LIVE for the latest news.
Browne to step down — but which Pies lifer will replace him?
Collingwood president Jeff Browne will depart the club at the end of the year, with the club already sounding out its replacement. Here’s who is in line to take up the big job at the Pies.