Grubbers gutted as star recruit suffers season-ending injury

OCEAN Grove’s premiership hopes have been dealt a crushing blow, with boom recruit Adam Marangon sustaining a season-ending injury.

Marangon, who crossed to the Grubbers this season after a strong career in the VAFA, learnt on Wednesday that he requires a full reconstruction after rupturing his ACL in Saturday’s BFL clash against Newcomb.

Ocean Grove coach Paul Lynch yesterday said Marangon was devastated after scans confirmed the worst.

“He’s shattered,” Lynch said of Marangon, pictured left against Geelong Amateur earlier this season.

“He’s a real football person, too, and he’s got to go through all that rehab again. It’s not ideal to go through two knee reconstructions in three years, but that’s footy and he’s had a bit of bad luck.

“It’s a flow on effect with work. He had 12 weeks off not long ago and now he’s got to have another 12 weeks off. That’s the worse thing about knees, it affects your work, your football career ... everything. It’s disappointing for everyone.”

Marangon limped off the field in the first quarter of Saturday’s clash at Grinter Reserve and failed to return.

“We originally thought it was a contact injury, but when we looked at the tape he did twist it,” Lynch said.

“When he came off, everything he was saying suggested it was an ACL. He heard a noise and a felt a pop. It’s the second time he’s done his knee, which is the disappointing thing for him.”

Marangon’s absence is certain to hurt the Grubbers, who have rebounded from a slow start to the season to be in the premiership frame.

“His last month has been as good as anyone at the club,” Lynch said. “He took a little bit of time to get going, he had a quad injury and he couldn’t shake it. We gave him a week off plus the interleague round off and that gave him three weeks to get it right and since then he’s been fantastic.’’