By JARROD POTTER
“THE harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph.”
This humble mantra was tweeted by Hawthorn footballer Alex Woodward after yet another character-testing challenge had been placed between him and his football career.
Woodward, 22, had to be helped from the field a fortnight ago in the VFL Round-14 clash between Box Hill and Coburg.
After only five minutes on field, Woodward was stretchered off following 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.
It is 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.”
At a press conference on Thursday, Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson said it will be a tough road back to the AFL, but Woodward has it in him to return to the senior side once again.
“That’s a really sad situation that he’s going to have his third knee reco,” Clarkson said.
“One thing that does occur when you have to go through that process is that you become a very, very resilient character and he’s certainly that way.
“His outlook and positivity is unbelievable for someone who has had to endure so much hardship over the last three years.
“Hopefully he returns and we’ll support him as much as we can through his rehab.”
Woodward was booked in for knee surgery last week.
