By Jarrod Potter
“THE harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph.”
This humble mantra was tweeted by Hawthorn footballer Alex Woodward on Sunday night after another character-testing challenge has seemingly been placed between him and his football career.
Woodward, 22, had to be helped from the field on Sunday morning in the VFL clash between Box Hill and Coburg.
After only five minutes on field, Woodward was stretchered off following what many suspect is another anterior cruciate ligament tear in his prone right knee.The Noble Park/Sandringham Dragons alumnus looks set to endure another huge stint in the rehab group after only returning from back-to-back knee operations in 2012 and 2013.
If the worst has happened, it will be the third time Woodward – the reigning Liston Trophy winner for the VFL’s best and fairest – has been sent under the knife for that troublesome joint.Woodward, when asked about his run of injuries last year, said the main thing was to strive to get back as there’s always a bright side to the struggles of day-to-day recovery.
“I’ve been in that position before, but probably the main thing is to be patient,” Woodward said to the Journal last year. “Persevere with whatever you’re doing – football or any other sport – because if you’re willing to do the hard yards it’s going to pay dividends eventually.”
Hawthorn has yet to comment on Woodward’s injury.
MORE TO COME
