Injured Blue Cameron Giles has taken to a new social media platform, Melbourne-based Incogo, to document his recovery from a navicular stress fracture in his right foot.

Here, in his own words, Cameron explains the severity of his injury and just how much rehab is required to get him back out on the park.

It all began in May 2014, when I was diagnosed with a navicular stress fracture, more commonly known as a stress fracture, in my right foot. The injury was an overuse thing that developed through running and the like, much the same as that suffered by Jack Trengove at Melbourne, and while no injuries are helpful it’s the sort of injury you really don’t want to get.

I underwent surgery on the foot in June during which time four screws and a plate were inserted, a bone graft was performed and a general cleanout was completed. Following the operation I was on crutches for seven weeks and just as I was ridding myself of the moonboot in time for pre-season training in November I had to undergo further surgery after a further problem was found in the same spot. This time another bone graft was performed to fill in a hole and I’ve only just got off the crutches now. Hopefully I’ll be able to get around in a moonboot for the next three or four weeks, and after that finally get to wear a right shoe again.

The injury wasn’t really painful. It was merely a hot spot around the fracture and it wasn’t until the hot spot settled that the fracture was discovered.

I remember the doctor advising that the fracture would keep me out for the rest of the season. That was pretty flattening because I was playing some pretty good footy in the VFL at the time, but the lowest point was when I had to undergo further surgery.

I’ve been fortunate there’s been a lot of people around the club to talk to, and I’m living with "Casey" Byrne and Patrick Cripps which also helps. Thankfully I’m back on the mend now, and in my most recent chat with the surgeon he’s told me how happy he is with my progress.

Cameron Giles is looking to be back out on the park in the second half of the year. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)

I can’t wait to start walking again with the moon boot. I haven’t walked for about six or seven months so it’ll be a case of just learning to walk again. That will happen for a couple of months and I’ll walk wearing the boot for a few weeks before jumping onto the Ultra G and working at 10, 20 and 30 per cent body weight and so on. Hopefully by July I’ll again be amongst the main training group and that is the golden month because I’ll then know whether I’ll be able to get six or seven games in the back end of 2015 before pre-season starts again.

Shortly I’ll be embarking on first term semester studies in psychology at Victoria University, which will keep me busy, and I’ll also be involving myself in the social side of things like this blog through the club’s media department. I’ll also be working closely on my game knowledge with my mentors Simon White and Michael Jamison.

I had earlier mentioned Jack Trengove with whom I have been forwarding text messages here and there. Jack’s had two lots of surgery just like me so we’re pretty much in the same boat and we’ve been able to compare notes.

Basically Jack’s told me to remain positive and to keep it all in perspective. He’s told me that you can’t change what’s happened – just set little milestones along the way and put your best foot forward. Hopefully soon that’ll be my right one!

I know that the injury is pretty scary as it’s ended careers like Matthew Egan’s at Geelong. In my case the indications are that the injury will be fixed, so it’s more a case of being spot-on with the rehab.

At the end of the day I count my lucky stars than I’m not one of those people in worse situations than me. I think about them a lot. In the meantime I look forward to working hard in getting back. For months I’ve been building my upper body strength in the gym because I know I’ll be standing the tall forwards, so that’s been a good thing for me.

I haven’t worn a right shoe since May so it’s fair to say that most of my left shoes are worn out. The day I stop hobbling into the club in one shoe will be a good day I reckon, and I’m counting down the days to when that happens.

To follow Cameron’s progress, download Incogo and support his journey.