If you have been to a Carlton game you will have seen Simon Nelson but most will not know who he is. Simon has been a physiotherapist for the Carlton Football Club for 15 years and is involved both at training and of course on match days. He is one of many who help to prepare (and repair) the Carlton players throughout a season.

On a match day Simon will be in the rooms prior to the game working with the rest of the medical team and the fitness staff to ensure all players are ready for the game. Then during the game Simon will be on the interchange bench ready to assist with any ‘running repairs’ that may be required during the day.

“Match days can mean a lot of pressure, that is part of the job. It is our role (the medical team) to ensure we do what is best for the individual player as well as for the team and that can be a balancing act at times. Obviously we will work closely with the coach when anyone is injured in a game,” said Simon.

Simon virtually has two physio jobs; the Carlton role on match days and training sessions as well as his ‘real’ job working at the Melbourne Sports Medical Clinic in the city. The Carlton role has become increasingly more demanding in recent years with full-day sessions at the Club but Simon still maintains his important role at Melbourne Sports Medical Clinic. He believes it helps to maintain a balance in his work and an understanding of physio matters in the community.

“We do treat the players at the Clinic, particularly on their day off,” Simon added.

Having been at Carlton for 15 years he has seen a lot of changes, both on and off the field. Enjoying success with the team early on and then in more recent times working through some more difficult seasons.

“Certainly there have been some difficult seasons but there is certainly plenty of excitement about the future and this is a reflection of the ever-increasing professionalism of the support team and the playing group.

“We now have a High Performance Team headed by Justin Cordy and we (the Medical Team) are part of this group. We have a full-time rehabilitation coach, a Myotherapist, a Physiologist supporting the fitness team and we work with Ben (Club Doctor Ben Barresi) and Justin to support the players and the coaching staff,” Simon said.

During his time with Carlton Simon has worked with four senior coaches; David Parkin, Wayne Brittain, Denis Pagan and of course Brett Ratten whom he had already established a relationship with when Brett was playing.