Patience pays off for dynamic Cutter
AT the time, midfielder Ryan Etherington was anxious to get back out on the park.
But, now that he looks back on it, he is grateful he took his time.
The South Cairns on-baller, who earlier in his career was called up to play in the Gold Coast Suns’ NEAFL development side, was fighting his way back from a season-ending knee injury.
Well, actually, it ended two seasons.
The popular Cutter suffered the injury at the back end of season 2017 and when the business end of 2018 rolled around, Etherington was itching to get back as his club was set for another finals run.
Just minutes after being in the side that beat Port Douglas for the first time in 14 months, he was smiling that he waited until 2019 began.
Just suffering an ACL tear usually puts a footballer out for 12 months but the Cutters midfielder copped a triple heartbreak – hurting three different areas of his knee, the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament.
“It was a slow painful process, especially watching last year when I could have tried to play towards the back end of the year,” Ethertington said.
“I could have played last year, but opted to take the extra couple of months to try and get it as right as I can, and so far so good.
“It was tough early with my knee and the rehab but I spoke to a few of the boys that have had similar injuries before and they stressed the importance of the rehab and doing it correctly.
“It felt like it was the right decision to stay out of playing for an extra couple of months to get the knee as best I can.”
When the injury occurred, former Cutters player-coach Cameron Campbell described the incident as “absolutely shattering” as Etherington’s leadership was vital at Fretwell Park.
Cutters coach John Tootell says Etherington has been a driving force behind their 11-1 start to the campaign.
“Ryan has been great this year,” Tootell said.
“He seems to pick up injuries at the most strange times but he has been great.
“He has been a massive inclusion back into the side and he is an excellent off-field leader as well. The entire midfield has played well together.”
The Cutters upset reigning premiers Port Douglas on Saturday afternoon and will be keen to continue winning ways this Saturday as they travel across town to Griffiths Park.