Adelaide three-time Premiership star Ebony Marinoff has revealed the emotional and physical toll of a syndesmosis injury.
Marinoff had surgery on her left ankle early last month, but not before spending a few weeks in a moon boot, with doctors hoping the injury would improve with rest.
Speaking to AFC Media seven weeks post-operation, said she still got emotional when she thought back to finding out she needed surgery.
“I just cried, I still get teary now, it’s so hard,” Marinoff said.
“I remember it so clearly, the surgeon said I wouldn’t be able to fully train for three months and all these things went through my head.
“I just kept thinking, ‘am I ever going to get back to my best?’
“I had never had surgery, so those first couple of weeks weren’t fun but I’m slowly getting better.”
Marinoff had never missed an AFLW game since joining the Crows ahead of the inaugural season in 2017.
But the syndesmosis injury, sustained during Round Nine against Geelong, threatened to derail her unblemished record.
The five-time All Australian pushed through the pain, however, and managed to play the remaining two minor rounds, three finals and finished third in the AFLW Best and Fairest count.
“I was pretty open and honest with the doctors and the physio that I wanted to keep playing if it wasn’t going to have a significant long-term impact on me, and if I passed fitness tests,” Marinoff said.
“The deal was that if I was to pass the fitness tests, then I’d be allowed to play.
“Doc (Matthew Clarke) thought I was absolutely mad but I guess we were on the same page to push me through.
“It might’ve been crazy, stupid, brave, whatever you want to call it to continue playing, but I don’t regret it because we nearly got there and I wanted to be on the park with my teammates.”
The 25-year-old, who claimed Season Five’s Club Champion award, said she was slowly working her way back to full fitness.
“As soon as I could, I was back in the gym, working my upper body, then when I could move around again, I was in the gym at the Club making sure I was getting all my range back,” Marinoff said.
“I spent a lot of hours on the watt bike (indoor bike) in my moon boot, rehabbing every single day and then got the moon boot off just before New Year’s.
“I’ve been back running for about a week and a half, it’s feeling really good and we are turning a corner which is nice after a pretty tough month.”
Although the start date for pre-season was yet to be confirmed, Marinoff said players had returned from a break over Christmas hungry to improve, following a Preliminary Final exit last campaign.
“I think the girls definitely needed a break, given we had two seasons in one year, but I am excited for the girls because they have come back refreshed and buying into making improvements,” Marinoff said.
“Hopefully we are ready to give it our best shot when we do go back after a disappointing end to last season.”
Marinoff says she will use the next few months to build up her strength, with a hope of being able to train fully by March.
“My teammates have been an amazing support as well,” Marinoff said.
“My goal is to be bigger, better and stronger after this setback and I can’t wait to hopefully reach that goal.”
