PTV: Tredrea's Recovery
Tredrea ruptured two ligaments in his ankle when his foot became trapped under teammate Matt Thomas in the second quarter of the Power’s thrilling three-point win over Essendon last weekend.
The 31-year-old had a LARS-style ligament inserted in his foot in a bid to quicken the recovery process, which is expected to take up to 12 weeks.
PTV: The Doc Explains All
On Friday Tredrea heralded the surgery a success, but said he was realistic about his chances of making it back to AFL level this season.
“There’s a chance I’ve played my last game, but there’s also a chance I could potentially play in another finals series," Tredrea said. "I’m optimistic, but very reluctant to say either way because I just don’t know the answers.
“The swelling isn’t bad and it’s as good an ankle as the surgeons have seen three or four days post-surgery, so that’s a tick and a step in the right direction, but I almost have to do another mini pre-season in that period to get fit and get back to match fitness.
“Then it (depends on) whether you come back through the AFL or SANFL, so there are a lot of hurdles to jump between now and then.”
Tredrea has been dogged by injury throughout his decorated career.
The four-time All-Australian has endured nine operations in 14 years with Port Adelaide, including five on his troublesome knee.
He overcame nagging knee injuries to take out the Power’s best and fairest award last season and played a key role in his side’s impressive start to 2010.
Tredrea admitted to being disappointed with the timing of his latest setback, but said he’d learned to accept that injuries were just an unfortunate part of football.
“The last 18 months have been really good… but in this game whenever you think you’ve got it nutted it always comes and (bites you)," he said.
“Nine operations doesn’t sound good, but that’s been the journey and a couple have been minor and a few have been major. This one unfortunately is major and a longer-term one, but I guess you test someone’s character by how they come back from injuries and I think over the period that I’ve been able to do that pretty well.”
Tredrea will be confined to a moon boot for up to six weeks before beginning a gruelling rehabilitation program.
He will spend two weeks away from Alberton to freshen up mentally, but said he wouldn’t use the time to ponder his future beyond this year.
“Even if I’d played all 22 rounds and hopefully a couple of finals that decision (on my future) would always be made with our football manager and coaching staff at the end of the season” Tredrea said.
“The main thing, whether I play on next year or not, is that I get myself in the best possible shape, one, for playing football next year or, two, for life after football.
“My body doesn’t recover as quick as it used to, but I’m hoping for this part of the journey anyway that it jumps back to its old self and I can get back as soon as I can.”
