Dempsey puts injury-riddled year behind him

Ivanhoes playmaker James Dempsey says he can’t wait to rip in for the Knights next season after spending most of the 2019 campaign on the sidelines.

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Ivanhoes playmaker James Dempsey says he can’t wait to rip in for the Knights next season after spending most of the 2019 campaign on the sidelines.

The 23-year-old half, who moved from Toowoomba to the Far North at the end of 2018 to take up a Queensland Cup development player contract with the Northern Pride, started the season in Ivanhoe’s No. 7 jersey before suffering a leg injury in May.

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ide adds two players from Western Downs region. Hugh Sedger from Valleys Roosters and James Dempsey from Pittsworth Danes. Both are from Toowoomba and will join fellow Toowoomba player David Murphy at the club. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

“I broke my leg at Pride training, so I only played three games (for Ivanhoes) and we won two and drew one,” he said.

Dempsey said his leg was now “100 per cent”. “At first, I couldn’t drive or do anything, but once I got back walking around, it was better,” he said.

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“It took me about 14 weeks to get back running and sprinting was another couple of weeks.

“Contact training only started right at the end of the season, so that was about four months.

“I did all my rehab at Pride and they got me back to full fitness.

Former Pride players James Dempsey, Hugh Sedger, and David Murphy who have signed to play with Ivanhoe Knights in 2020 PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

“I was probably ready to play the last few games at Ivanhoes but didn’t really risk it in the end, as they weren’t going to make finals.”

The youngster said he was keen for a big pre-season in his comeback from injury, with hopes of cementing a spot in next year’s starting line-up.

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“Halfback would be my preference, but I’ll go wherever (coach) Jono (Zangrande) wants me, I don’t really mind,” he said.

“I’m just looking forward to playing footy again.”

Originally published as Dempsey puts injury-riddled year behind him