AFTER a serious knee injury ended her season prematurely, Janelle Cuthbertson turned to one of the greatest tennis players of all time and a furry friend to remind her she can get through anything thrown her way.

Port Adelaide skipper Cuthbertson’s season was over after she limped off the MCG on Friday, 6 September, having landed awkwardly during her side’s Round 2 win over the Western Bulldogs.

Her team would go on a remarkable eight-game winning run to finish the season, surprising many by winning two finals before ultimately falling short in a Preliminary Final against eventual premier North Melbourne.

While she was immensely proud, watching from the sideline was incredibly challenging for Cuthbertson.

Despite having endured her fair share of adversity during her US college tennis career and her time in footy since changing sports, the 34-year-old was looking for inspiration to help her through her rehab.

She found some through her idol Rafael Nadal and a new puppy – with both athlete and pup playing key roles in driving her towards a return to the field.

“I named Rafa after Rafael Nadal. I’m a big Rafa fan and he obviously retired in November, so it just kind of felt right for me,” Cuthbertson says of the Groodle that she got back in November.

“Rafa Nadal is my favourite athlete of all time, and he's incredibly resilient – he’s had so many injuries and has overcome a lot of adversity so when I got Rafa I was working through my own rehab, and it just kind of made sense.

“It’s just a little reminder that I, too can get through anything that's thrown at me.”

While very cute, the pup is described by Cuthbertson as “brutal”.

“He's a little menace,” she smiles. “He loves to chew cords and anything he can find.

“But he's been an absolute blessing, and I love spending time with him down at the beach.

“It has been really fun.”

Three months post-surgery to repair her ruptured ACL, Cuthbertson continues to build strength in her knee, spending plenty of time in the gym with fellow injury rehabber Lauren Young.

While many of her teammates will be enjoying the off-season, she will be back at work, determined to be leading the side out in Round 1 in 2025, something made easier with her contract extension announced in mid-December.

“That's my goal,” Cuthbertson says.

“I'm going to do everything possible and be really diligent with my rehab and give myself the best possible chance at returning round one.

“I’m trying to get really strong and really confident in my knee and when I return in January, the goal is to start returning to run and start building up that conditioning again.

“My goal is to come back in career best shape in May, in preseason and I'm going to work really hard to make sure I do that.”