Injured Brisbane forward Brent Staker deserves a change in luck. After all, his AFL career depends on it.
The past 16 months have been a rollercoaster ride of emotions for Staker, who has undergone two reconstructions and a bone graft on his right knee following a horror run with injury.
The drama all started in round one, 2011, when Staker ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a game against Fremantle.
Instead of a conventional knee reconstruction, Staker opted to undergo the radical LARS procedure, which uses a synthetic ligament and had him up and going again by round 17.
But just six weeks later Staker damaged his ACL once again, with the former Eagle opting for a conventional reconstruction this time around.
Straight forward?
Hardly, with the operation taking a major twist.
Staker woke up to the news that his ACL couldn’t be repaired just yet, with the surgeon instead forced to fill a hole in Staker’s knee first.
That procedure set Staker back six more months, and killed off his chances of playing in 2012.
Staker is now well on his way to a full recovery after finally undergoing the knee reconstruction in February, and says he’ll be ready to go when pre-season training starts in early November.
The 28-year-old’s current contract runs out at the end of next year, and Staker knows 2013 will be a make-or-break season for him.
“It’s one of those years where you’re excited to be back playing footy, you’re excited at the prospect of getting another contract,” Staker said ahead of Sunday’s AFL clash between West Coast and Brisbane at Patersons Stadium.
“My major focus is just getting back to the thrill of putting the boots on and getting ready for the game.
“I’m not scared about things going on with the knee. You can’t stress about it. You’ve just got to trust the knee and trust the work you’ve put in to it.
“If it doesn’t work out, so be it. It’s the cards you’ve been dealt.”
Staker’s career has been filled with heartbreaking stories.
He experienced the pain of West Coast’s four-point grand final loss to Sydney in 2005.
And when the Eagles won the flag a year later, Staker was forced to watch on from the sidelines after being overlooked for selection.
But Staker hopes his run of bad luck has come to an end, with the 139-game veteran eager to help the emerging Lions charge up the table next year.
Brisbane’s shock two-point victory over West Coast in round 10 fuelled Staker’s belief the club was on the right track, but the Eagles will be a far tougher prospect on their home turf this Sunday, especially with star midfielder Luke Shuey and forward Josh Hill back in the ranks.
