Devoted dad’s return to footy
Ammo Jarrod Westwood left the game he loved for something he loved even more. But now he’s ready to play again.
JARROD Westwood will make a stirring return to football at Geelong Amateur this season, two years after retiring to help care for precious daughter Quinnie.
Life in the Westwood household is now “as normal as it can be” after the miracle three-year-old twin received the gift of life in November with a successful kidney transplant.
The delicate procedure, involving a kidney from Quinnie’s grandfather Rod, ended more than two years of uncertainty and daily dialysis, slashed hospital visits and significantly improved the toddler’s quality of life.
Westwood, who retired after playing in Geelong Amateur’s 2014 BFL premiership, said his comeback provided “a bit of normality” but that footy also remained “very low down the list” behind family, health and work.
“I missed playing, the circumstances were different as to why I retired, it wasn’t through injuries,” the 32-year-old said.
“I’m lucky I can still do it, I’m just a little older, I missed playing and missed being around the club.
“All the things went the way we hoped they would, so the opportunity is here.
“Quinnie had her transplant in November, a lot of things were pending on how that was going to go. It’s a pretty major surgery, it was a big unknown as to what was going to happen after that.
“But it’s very lucky it’s gone the way we hoped and this (footy comeback) has been one of the things to fall out.
“The thing is, as much as things are in a good place, they can change.”
Westwood, whose footy CV includes premierships at South
“Quinnie had her transplant in November, a lot of things were pending on how that was going to go.”
Barwon and a stint on Geelong’s VFL list, spent the past two seasons in an assistant coaching role at the Geelong Falcons when his family situation allowed.
“I would hope I have a much different understanding of the game, especially with where it’s going,” he said. “I’m not in a coaching role . . . but I would like to play a role out on the ground,” before quipping, “I might not be as selfish as what I used to be.”
Recent match-simulation training against GFL premiership contender Grovedale also provided a quick reality check about how much the game had changed in two years.
“I’m realistic as to where I’m at,” he said. “Two years older and the competition, especially in the BFL, looks as though it’s getting stronger.
“I’m pretty realistic that where I was three to four years ago is a little bit different to where I am now.
“I don’t know how the body’s going to handle not playing for so long.
“We played a scratch match last week and I remembered what it’s like to play footy again, getting hit and those things, but it’s very exciting to be back to a bit of normality.”
The Westwoods’ story has been well-documented in the pages of Geelong Advertiser and gt over the past years.
Life for Jarrod and wife Clare took a devastating turn early in 2014 when unborn twin Harriet passed away in utero at 34 weeks after the umbilical cord wrapped around her tiny body in three places.
Quinnie, who arrived soon after by an emergency caesarean delivery, was born with life-threatening health problems.
It meant a never-ending cycle of visits to emergency wards, intensive care units and operating theatres.
“We’ll be forever connected to the e hospital for her life with ongoing visits and medicines, but compared to the level of stress and, I suppose, effort to manage a child with dialysis, it’s a massive difference,” he e said.