There are some things that do not change at the end of a football season, no matter where the side finishes on the AFL ladder. One of those is post-season operations for players as they start their break before preparations commence for the next season.

This year 17 players have had late season or post-season operation to repair injuries that required attention after a tough season. The majority are minor operations for injuries that have not prevented players from finishing the season; others are more major operations that will require longer rehabilitation for the individual player. Importantly the operations have been completed as soon as possible following the season and the rehabilitation programs will ensure the players are back involved in the pre-season training as soon as possible.

The winner of the John Nicholls Medal, Chris Judd had his arm in a sling at the Best & Fairest Dinner following an arthroscopy on his right shoulder. Michael Jamison and Andrew Walker were also wearing a sling following shoulder operations and Nick Stevens came out of hospital on the day after an operation on his left thumb.

On the day after the John Nicholls Medal Matthew Kreuzer, Richard Hadley and Joe Anderson all traveled to Tasmania for hip operations. Both Heath Scotland (late in the season) and Ryan Houlihan (during the season) had hip operations in Tasmania during the year.

Andrew Carrazzo missed the last game of the season due to a knee injury and he has had an arthroscopy and Eddie Betts had an operation on his ankle prior to the end of the season.

Back in Training
The players are currently enjoying some time off before the pre-Christmas training schedule commences. Brett Ratten has certainly confirmed that while it is a break for the players they are expected to return for pre-season training in top condition.

The first group of players will return to training on Monday October 27th and everyone will be back in training in the second week of November.

Monday October 27 – Players with less than 4 years experience return
Monday November 3 – Players with between 4 and 7 years experience return
Monday November 10 – Players with more than 7 years experience return