Nine months on from surgery for a ruptured ACL, defender Jake Pasini is more determined than ever to make his highly anticipated AFL debut. Image: Isabel Gawel.

LUCKLESS defender Jake Pasini has expressed his gratitude to everyone at Port Adelaide for supporting him through his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury, saving special praise as he returns to full training for coach Ken Hinkley.

Pasini ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after landing awkwardly in a marking contest at training in May.

In another cruel twist, he was in line to make his AFL debut later that week.

It continued an unlucky stint at Alberton for the 192cm backman who has shown promise around stints on the sidelines with injury.

But fresh from signing a two-year contract extension and nearly nine months post-surgery, Pasini joined in on full training this week wearing the pink hat which signifies no contact.

“The two-year extension was offered to me before I did my knee and I was always going to say yes (to staying at Port Adelaide),” Pasini explained in an interview with the West Australian.

“When I did my knee, the club still said they’d honour that contract so I am extremely grateful.

“They’ve all supported me since I’ve done my knee and the way they’ve gone about it has just been amazing. I couldn’t thank everyone more.

“Especially Ken has kept my head up high, saying I’m definitely good enough for AFL football and hopefully this year I can break into the team.”

In another significant step in his recovery from a ruptured ACL, Pasini recently joined the main group for full training. Image: Isabel Gawel.

Having the backing of the coaches and a contract behind him, Pasini is hoping to play a part in some if not all of Port Adelaide’s pre-season practice matches depending on whether the medical staff give him the all clear.

Having arrived from Swan Districts in Western Australia with the eighth pick in the 2019 rookie draft, he has been restricted to only 14 SANFL league games across 2021 and 2022.

His first season saw the club forced to sit out of the SANFL competition due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and his 2021 season was restricted by shoulder surgery.

His form early in 2022 saw him named as an AFL emergency or the first time for the Round 7 win over St Kilda in Cairns and in Round 9 he was in line to replace skipper Tom Jonas – absent through health and safety protocols - for the club’s Round 9 trip to Hobart to face North Melbourne before his knee injury ended his season.

“It was pretty crazy,” Pasini said. “I was playing alright football in the SANFL and I sort of knew I was getting close. I was an emergency when we played St Kilda a few weeks before and was feeling pretty good.

“Then on the Tuesday at training I just blew my knee out which is not the best feeling. I went into the surgery on the Thursday and Friday morning Ken gave me the call and told me I was looking more likely than not to play against North Melbourne that week, which was great to hear but was obviously also devastating.

“There were two ways I could have taken it when I did my knee. I could have just curled up in a ball and just went quiet within myself or take it as an opportunity to grow and that’s exactly what I did and I think I did it pretty well.

“Other than doing my knee, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Pasini has used his injury woes to grow as both a player and a person, and now has his sights set on an AFL debut. Image: Isabel Gawel.

It is that positivity which has endeared Pasini to his teammates and club staff, who have seen him attack his rehabilitation with a smile on his face and a determination to improve.

It has seen him add bulk to his frame and increase his aerobic capacity.

“I had done both shoulders over recent years so I took the opportunity to work on my upper body,” he explained.

“I lost a few kilos when I did my knee. I was weighing in around 88 or 86 but I’m now weighing in at 93 so I definitely took it with both hands and hit the gym pretty hard.

“When I could get back into running, I also took the chance to do extra.”

Pasini is now focussed on getting more match play under his belt and continuing to learn from the Power’s experienced defenders, including Jonas, Aliir Aliir, Tom Clurey and Trent McKenzie.