Nerves get the better of Vardy

NATHAN Vardy’s cutlery started to clatter. The West Coast ruckman had sat down to eat breakfast last Saturday morning when his appetite failed him.

“I was just that nervous at the prospect of winning and playing in a grand final,” he said.

“I tried to eat bacon and eggs but didn’t get a hell of a lot in.

“I was eating it like a rabbit. I wasn’t getting any in and then I started to worry that I’m not going to have enough energy for the game.”

It wasn’t the first time Vardy (pictured) has gone hungry.

The former Geelong big man has fasted before each of his surgeries … and this is where his path to the MCG tomorrow becomes difficult to digest.

“I think it’d be close to 13 or 14 (surgeries) now,” the 27year-old said. “It’ll take too long to run through all of my injuries — I’ll just say the joints.”

Vardy was drafted by Geelong at pick 42 in 2009 but didn’t make his debut until 2011.

Two months later, Vardy was told it might be career over after nine games.

After battling to 25 games in seven years at Geelong, he moved west last year and played 22 games.

Now a grand final awaits.