The 25-year-old defender had played so strongly in Freo’s league-leading defence, his name had been linked with possible All Australian selection.
But Ibbotson had been experiencing some Achilles soreness in the weeks leading up to the club’s round 19 clash with Carlton.
He flew with the team to Melbourne but was a late withdrawal from the side that defeated the Blues at Etihad Stadium.
“It was a tendinopathy, which inflames my tendon, so the decision was made to rest me for the one week, hoping that the following week I’d be okay,” Ibbotson said.
But he failed to come up the following week, and the week after, and the week after.
“It ended up being every week was the same,” Ibbotson said.
After Fremantle defeated Geelong in the Qualifying Final at Simonds Stadium, earning a week’s rest and a home preliminary final, Ibbotson and the club’s fitness staff had to make a tough call on his season.
“We made the decision that I couldn’t play anymore and it’d be best if I had surgery and looked to next year,” Ibbotson said.
“From round 19 right up until the prelim weekend, which is when I had the surgery, we were hoping the tendinopathy would improve, but it didn’t improve enough that I could confidently say I could play a whole game.
“I didn’t want to say that I could play when I couldn’t, and by that stage I’d missed too much footy to be able to play a full game and contribute positively.”
Ibbotson watched the final against the Cats in Perth with a friend. It didn’t hit home what he might miss out on until very late in the game.
“It wasn’t until Stephen Hill kicked that goal right at the end that it sunk in that we were almost home and that we were a good chance to make the Grand Final,” he said.
“We still had a big task against Sydney, but it was really hard knowing that we were one win away from the Grand Final.
“I wanted to play and be a part of what turned out to be a special occasion for the club.”
Ibbotson had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates experienced vastly contrasting emotions over the course of a week.
“It was a little bit bittersweet, but it was good seeing the boys after the game on the ground in the prelim and seeing how much they enjoyed the win, knowing what was ahead of them,” he said.
“But the following weekend it was incredibly hard watching them all after the game, the way it panned out.”
Ibbotson’s absence from the finals created an opportunity for a young player to step up in his place.
South Australian recruit Cam Sutcliffe, who had played in the midfield in his first two seasons, performed admirably throughout the finals series in the Freo back six.
Ibbotson said Sutcliffe’s effort highlighted what was now one of the club’s major strengths – depth.
“It was really good to see Cam step up the way he did,” he said.
“He has always been a good athlete and a good runner, but I think now he’s starting to learn the game plan and he’s learning from the guys he’s out on the track with, like Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield and Michael Johnson.
“For him to go through playing a finals series and the Grand Final as young as he is, it will be invaluable for him and I think he’s going to be a really good player.”
As for his own progress in the 2014 pre-season, Ibbotson said there was still a bit of work to be done before he could join his teammates in full training.
“What we’ve focussed on is calf strength and ankle mobility, the things around the Achilles,” he said.
“My running has improved a lot, my mechanics are starting to become more like they were before I had the surgery.
“There’s still a little bit of a way to go but I’m definitely happy with where I’m at and I’m moving forward nicely.”
