By ROY WARD
A YEAR ago Noble Park resident Alex Woodward was working his way through his first AFL preseason after being drafted to Hawthorn.
The now 19 year old completed the preseason and earned a place in the Hawks side for their first and second NAB Cup matches before tragedy struck when he suffered a serious knee injury that ended his season.
While the Hawks went through a dominant season, which culminated in a grand final loss to Sydney, Woodward was in the background doing rehab work with club coaches and learning how to run again, all in the name of being fully fit for preseason training.
The teenage midfielder admits 2012 was a year of frustration but he also learned plenty about himself and about life at AFL level while completing the first year of an AFL traineeship, in which he tracked an opposition or Hawks midfielder each match.
“It was pretty devastating at the time,” he said about his injury. “I was also frustrated as I had put in the hard yards in preseason, only to break down in the second NAB Cup match.
“But I didn’t let the negative feelings get to me. I went to my family for support and they were there for me. I just remained positive and tried to get around my teammates and do everything I could for them.”
Soon after he suffered the injury, Hawks coaches and doctors decided Woodward would sit out the entire season and not be played at all.
As a teenager in his first year in the AFL, Woodward was at times very keen to change their minds but instead stuck strong to the belief his career would be better in the long run if he got himself fit for the next preseason.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling sort of upbeat and very optimistic at times and wanted to get back playing. But I knew a full season off was the best thing development wise.
“There was no point coming back early and I didn’t want to get injured again and go through another horror season. In the end it gave me something to look forward to.”
A little over three weeks ago Woodward returned to full training with the Hawks as they entered their preseason fitness programs.
“As I said to the coaches, I see every week as a chance to play AFL football and I want to put my hand up every week and be in contention.”
While AFL preseason matches are still a few months away, Woodward can’t wait to get back into a game situation. “I can’t wait to get my hands dirty and play some matches.”
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