The best bits from our chat with Jack Watts...
Watts describing the moment the injury occured:
“It’s just one of those things, unfortunately Daisy came and tackled me from my blind spot.
“I just planted my right leg on the ground as he sort of fell down my leg and I felt it go straight away.
“I wasn’t too keen to move around on the ground there.
“The pain wasn’t that bad to be honest.
“I gave out that big cry because I knew that I’d felt my leg break.
“The first thing I felt was that leg snap, so that was the cry of almost frustration really.
“It was strange, I really didn’t have any pain at all from that point on, up until post-surgery.
Watts on the surgery:
“When it gets described like a motor vehicle accident by the docs, it’s a pretty serious one, I think.
“I’ve been very lucky over my whole career - a couple of broken collar bones and fingers but that’s about it.
“The surgeon was really happy.
“He was able to get everything back in place. My whole ankle was dislocated so the actual ankle was out of the joint.
“The whole ankle was blown. All the ligaments and everything holding your ankle to your leg was detached.
“They had to put that all back together, along with the broken leg.
“It was a pretty serious surgery and I think I was under for three hours but he was pretty happy with it.
Watts on the rehab:
“For me, I will be holding on to that hope that it’s possible to get back this year.
“And if we were to make a run at final, just imagine that comeback.
“That’s what I’ll be holding on to for the whole rehab process but in saying that, you can’t really guarantee anything.
Watts on his mind frame after the injury:
“It’s hard not to get down in the dumps straight after it happens.
“I feel like I owe the club and supporters a fair bit, especially after what happened in the off-season.
“I was just starting to pay that back a little bit and then this happened so that’s sort of the thing that hurts the most.
“And not being able to get out there with the boys every week and put on the jumper and play for your club.
“That’s the frustrating thing but I can’t do anything about what’s happened, you can only tackle what’s in front of you.
“I’ll be bringing a positive mindset to it and hopefully getting back as soon as I can.
Watts on what he will do outside of football while he recovers:
“Initially, I might try and get away a little bit once I can get up and walk around.
“I can’t really do much in here, in terms of training, that’s probably the time to get back and see some family.
“Once I’m up and going and can train, I’m pretty keen to get around the club as much as possible and work hard and start that comeback trail.
“I am at uni doing my MBA. That will take up a fair bit of mental stress and time.
“I would love to get up north with our Aboriginal programs and get up there for a couple of weeks if possible.
