Racing along road to recovery, Goldsack on track for comeback
COLLINGWOOD veteran Tyson Goldsack is on track to complete one of the fastest recoveries from a knee construction in the game’s history.
Goldsack, 31, blew out his knee in the Magpies’ March 10 preseason game but could make an inspirational return to the Pies’ VFL or AFL team before finals.
A Round 23 comeback against Fremantle would complete a 24-week rehabilitation, although there are hopes the popular veteran and 2010 premiership defender could return even sooner.
Only Melbourne great David Schwarz (11 weeks) and Western Bulldogs onballer Tony Liberatore (18 weeks) have come back inside six months.
Medicos have warned there are increased risks for footballers returning inside seven or eight months.
But Goldsack returned from a European holiday over the weekend and has received medical clearance to ramp up his training this week in preparation to potentially play next month.
Captain Scott Pendlebury said Goldsack’s commitment to his rehabilitation program has been exemplary.
“His attention to detail is phenomenal and he is the strongest guy in the gym now,” Pendlebury said.
“I think he has seen the surgeon a couple of days ago and he has been completely ticked-off from a strength point of view.
“He is off the charts at five months, compared to guys at nine months, so they’re not going to hold him back (unnecessarily). He is right to go, so now he ramps up in a bid to get back.”
The Magpie’s return could provide Collingwood with a massive backline boost following Lynden Dunn’s season-ending knee injury last weekend.
Significantly, Goldsack had a graft from his quad — rather than his hamstring — to help repair his anterior cruciate ligament.
The quad muscle graft is believed by some experts to provide a stronger fix.
In another boost, Pendlebury said the 161-gamer had suffered a “clean” ACL injury, meaning “no other parts of his knee were damaged”.
Goldsack last year pulled off one of the most courageous feats of the 2017 season, playing out the second half against Fremantle with a broken collarbone.