Capiron hip to op

Tassie surgeon hope for Cat

GEELONG VFL star Dan Capiron will seek the elite medical advice of Michael Pritchard as he bids to avoid a season-ending injury.

Capiron is likely to fly to Tasmanian to see hip specialist Pritchard, who helped former Cats players Steve Johnson and Nathan Vardy overcome debilitating hip complaints.

The second-year Geelong VFL player has failed to take the field this season as he battles a labrum tear in his left hip.

The 21-year-old was diagnosed in January, but after choosing a conservative approach to recovery, he has failed to make any progress.

“To be honest, I don’t know if I’m getting any better,” Capiron said yesterday

“It’s pretty frustrating. I’ve had a few cortisones in the past five or six months and they’re (doctors) trying to determine what’s wrong.

“They don’t want to go straight into surgery, that’s the last option, but I found out Saturday that (surgery) would be the go.”

Capiron pushed through the pain barrier in the preseason, lining up in the practice matches for the Cats.

But he is yet to play a homeand-away match.

“I pulled up pretty sore,” he said.

“I had a few more cortisones and it wasn’t really working. I tried to get back running over the last couple of weeks, but, again, it was no good.

“I’m in talks with the sports doctors at the moment and we’ll try to figure something out. Michael Pritchard is in Tassie and he’s really good.

“He helped Stevie J and Nathan Vardy, so I might be heading there next week to get it stitched up.

“Hopefully that’s the end of it, but it will put me out until about Round 20. But I just want to get it fixed.

“It’s pretty debilitating because it inflames the whole pelvis, the hip joints and groins. Some days when I’m a bit sore it’s hard to get out of bed. I’ll be shattered if I don’t get up for a game later in the year, but I just want to get it fixed.”

With surgery likely to run him out for about three months, Capiron is likely to miss the rest of the season. But he is not prepared to give up.

“I’m still clinging on to that little bit of hope,” he said.

“I’ll push it as much as I can, without causing any problems. I’ll listen to the physios and do all the right things.

“It’s kind of disappointing, but I’m not the first and I won’t be the last. I’ve just got to cop it on the chin and try to get the best out of myself.”