When it comes to the world of professional sport, injuries are a part of life. Unfortunately, as a fan, there’s nothing more frustrating in life than seeing your team’s finals chances go down the toilet, with your best players sidelined with injury.
Some players are a bit more susceptible to injury than others, and certain players seem to spend more time at the doctor’s office than they do on the field.
With the NRL and AFL about to get into full swing, we thought it’d be a good time to take a look at some of Australia’s sports walking wounded, who’ll need to be kept in bubble wrap to stay on the field this season.
Gary Ablett – Suns/Cats
The two-time Brownlow medal winner spent more time on the sidelines for the Gold Coast than he did on the field. The high-profile recruit had shoulder surgery in 2014 and knee surgery in 2015. After being traded back to Geelong at the end of 2017, Geelong’s favourite son injured his hamstring in the lead-up to the 2018 AFL season.
His extensive injury list helped in finishing the careers of coaches Guy McKenna and Rodney Eade, with Chris Scott next in line to attempt to get one more year out of the former Suns skipper.
Chris Lynn – Cricket Australia
Another summer of cricket has been marked by another injury to Chris Lynn’s shoulder. The T20 master blaster dislocated for the fifth time in the final of the T20I Tri-Series against New Zealand. The tumble could end up costing Lynn a stint on the international T20 circuit.
If Lynn can’t take his place with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, he’ll end up giving up a $1.8 million contract.
Nic Naitanui – West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles fortunes in the AFL will rest on the broad shoulders of their dreadlocked ruckman. The Eagles star spent 55 weeks on the sidelines recovering from a knee reconstruction, after rupturing his ACL against Hawthorn. If the Eagles can keep their star man fit, then expect them to show some improvement in 2018.
Billy Slater – Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm and Queensland Origin Star has spent a serious amount of time on the sidelines with shoulders injuries over the last two years. Slater will finally play his 300th game this season after picking up another shoulder injury in the World Club Challenge against Leeds. At 34 years of age, time is not on his side and 2018 is potentially his final year in the NRL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMmRlbrA56U
David Pocock – Brumbies/Wallabies
David Pocock remains the linchpin who could transform the Wallabies chances of finally winning a series against the All-Blacks in 2018. The former Wallaby skipper has endured two knee reconstructions and a series of gruesome injuries on the rugby field. The Wallabies chances at silverware increase dramatically if Pocock can stay on the field this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLGRYzq47ak
Robbie Kruse – Socceroos
Over the course of his career Socceroos star, Robbie Kruse has spent 613 days on the sidelines. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder has become a key member of the Australian side, taking over the mantle from Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka. Kruse will be expected to help Australia get out of the Group stage when they head to Russia for the World Cup in 2019.
Dante Exum – Utah Jazz
Australian point guard Dante Exum sat out the entire 2015/2016 NBA season, after injuring his knee while on duty with the Australian team in Europe. The No.5 draft pick then found himself on the sidelines again with a freak shoulder injury in October 2017. The young Aussie is on the verge of another comeback, with the Jazz pushing for a berth in the playoffs in 2018.
Greg Inglis – South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney captain spent 12 months on the sidelines, after tearing his ACL in the opening game of the 2017 NRL season. Considered one of the greats of the game, Inglis will be looking to help the Rabbitohs climb back into finals contention in 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7LXguPtP8o