GVGjr
19-11-2011, 08:24 AM
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2011/05/15/1226056/269168-dale-morris.jpg
DALE Morris knows nursing his broken leg back to full strength is only half the battle.
The Western Bulldogs defender is 14 weeks into a rehabilitation that included a month in a wheelchair.
Morris, 29, snapped his leg in Round 21, then, with an epidural to numb the pain, watched in hospital while doctors manipulated the bone back into place.
Now he is hoping to be running by Christmas and be back on the field for Round 1.
But, speaking for the first time about an injury similar to the one that ruined Richmond star Nathan Brown's career, Morris conceded how shocked he was.
"I finally watched (the video) after about eight weeks, and there was just nothing in it," he said.
"I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. I collided with Woody (teammate Easton Wood) and split my chin and broke my leg.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"He came into the hospital and he had a bruise on his shin and a bump on his leg. I copped the wrong end of the deal."
Morris is thankful he did not need surgery.
"The calcification is making the bone stronger than before," he said.
"It's a long journey and there is still a long way to go. I am battling the injury and then the mental scarring with everything that happened. When the injury is fine, then I have to train up my mind because never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen to me.
"You can heal well, but you have to heal upstairs as well. It's in your mind: are you going to be the same? Will the fitness and confidence come back to be able to run and jump on the leg? When I do come back, if someone smothers my leg how will I be?
"Those are the questions I have got at the moment because I can't get out on the track."
Surgeon David Young is happy with Morris's progress and plans to ramp up his program.
From there the player will be guided by the pain levels and the ability of his leg muscles to recover after dwindling to almost nothing.
"You have to go on how it feels and what the surgeon says," Morris said. "Youngy wants me running by Christmas.
"That's my goal, to be ready by Round 1. Whether it's AFL or Williamstown remains to be seen.
To read more
Bulldogs defender Dale Morris vows to beat injury and play in Round 1 (http://heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/bulldogs-defender-dale-morris-vows-to-beat-injury-and-play-in-round-1/story-e6frf9jf-1226199636315)
DALE Morris knows nursing his broken leg back to full strength is only half the battle.
The Western Bulldogs defender is 14 weeks into a rehabilitation that included a month in a wheelchair.
Morris, 29, snapped his leg in Round 21, then, with an epidural to numb the pain, watched in hospital while doctors manipulated the bone back into place.
Now he is hoping to be running by Christmas and be back on the field for Round 1.
But, speaking for the first time about an injury similar to the one that ruined Richmond star Nathan Brown's career, Morris conceded how shocked he was.
"I finally watched (the video) after about eight weeks, and there was just nothing in it," he said.
"I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. I collided with Woody (teammate Easton Wood) and split my chin and broke my leg.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
"He came into the hospital and he had a bruise on his shin and a bump on his leg. I copped the wrong end of the deal."
Morris is thankful he did not need surgery.
"The calcification is making the bone stronger than before," he said.
"It's a long journey and there is still a long way to go. I am battling the injury and then the mental scarring with everything that happened. When the injury is fine, then I have to train up my mind because never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen to me.
"You can heal well, but you have to heal upstairs as well. It's in your mind: are you going to be the same? Will the fitness and confidence come back to be able to run and jump on the leg? When I do come back, if someone smothers my leg how will I be?
"Those are the questions I have got at the moment because I can't get out on the track."
Surgeon David Young is happy with Morris's progress and plans to ramp up his program.
From there the player will be guided by the pain levels and the ability of his leg muscles to recover after dwindling to almost nothing.
"You have to go on how it feels and what the surgeon says," Morris said. "Youngy wants me running by Christmas.
"That's my goal, to be ready by Round 1. Whether it's AFL or Williamstown remains to be seen.
To read more
Bulldogs defender Dale Morris vows to beat injury and play in Round 1 (http://heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/bulldogs-defender-dale-morris-vows-to-beat-injury-and-play-in-round-1/story-e6frf9jf-1226199636315)