An AFL club can be a tough and demanding environment and second-year players Max Duffy and Tanner Smith have learnt that all too well.
Both players have spent the majority of their AFL career in rehab thanks to long-term injuries they have sustained.
After making his AFL debut in round four against Hawthorn last year, Smith only played 12 games for Peel Thunder after enduring a season-ending shoulder injury during round 16.
Duffy’s 2013 season was stalled by five hamstring injuries, with the forward only playing twelve games for East Fremantle.
Smith headed back to country Victoria during the off-season and Duffy, who is from WA, stayed in Perth, but both decided to dedicate their ‘break’ to training and making up for lost time.
“It wasn’t a hard decision, it’s what we get paid to do, it’s our job,” Duffy said.
“There was no decision other than to get straight back on the horse and get straight into training, do my rehab as diligently as I can and give myself every opportunity to play well when I came back.”
The housemates showed up to pre-season training fit and keen to get onto the track and play a full season.
Unfortunately that wasn’t the case in round one, with Smith coming off in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and Duffy dislocating a shoulder in the second.
After missing 11 games, the duo returned to WAFL action for Peel last weekend.
“We were both trying to beat each other back to playing and we ended up coming back on the same week, it was a good little incentive,” Duffy said.
“It was exciting to be out there again, finally, after a long break.
“We have both come out of the game unscathed, so we’re really happy.”
Although the result didn’t go Peel’s way, Smith said he was happy to get through the game.
“Playing down in the backline I was under pressure all day, but it was good to get the cobwebs off,” he said.
“I had limited game time, but I really enjoyed getting back on the track and having a feel of the footy again.”
Both players credited each other for the support during their time away from the main group.
“As well as living with Tanner, it’s good to have someone in rehab who is going through the same things as you,” Duffy said.
“We were able to motivate each other when we knew each other was getting a bit flat. We have both come out of the game unscathed, so we’re really happy.”
The focus for both Smith and Duffy for the rest of the year is the same.
“I need to keep improving my footy and playing to the best of my ability keep working hard in the gym and training,” Duffy said.
“I’ll continue to work on all areas and develop myself into a better footy player.”
“It has been pretty unlucky for the both of us, but it was really good for us boys to get back out there,” Smith said.
“I will look to improve my footy and stay out on the track and hopefully get though the rest of the year with plenty of run in my legs.”
