Griffin close to hitting the track
Injured ruckman Jon Griffin speaks about returning to running, his rehab ‘wingman’ and Zac Clarke’s rise
The 27-year-old’s season ended when he hurt his knee in the early stages of Fremantle’s round 7 game against Collingwood.
Griffin’s rehab program has so far consisted of bike and cross-trainer work, and he has been building strength and agility through gymnastics and yoga.
“I’m not too far from jogging,” he told 6PR’s Sports Today.
Fellow Freo big man Kepler Bradley sustained a season-ending knee injury just two weeks before Griffin’s.
The pair have offered each other great support in rehab, but also some healthy competition.
“It’s a bit of human nature, both of us are looking at each other pretty closely… we compare where we are at,” Griffin said.
“Kepler’s had a couple of little issues here and there, I’ve jumped ahead of him a little bit.”
The absence of Griffin and Bradley, coupled with Aaron Sandilands’ limited playing time this year, has allowed Zac Clarke to flourish.
Griffin said it was pleasing to see the 23-year-old stand up and lead the ruck.
“He’s really come a long in the past couple of weeks and he’s done a great job when Aaron hasn’t been there,” he said.
“He’s been playing some really good footy and it’s great to see him developing.”