RATHER than being completely shattered that his season was over, Melbourne midfielder Jack Trengove says he felt some relief when he learned that he had cracked his navicular bone.
It put to rest doubts the No.2 NAB AFL Draft selection and former co-captain was having in his ability to play as he once did.
"To a degree, to get the news that there was something wrong with me [allowed me to] think 'OK, I'm not just losing it'," Trengove said.
"There is a reason, to an extent, why you're not moving the way you have in the past,"
Trengove's foot problems stem back to December 2012 but he battled through the injury in 2013, playing 20 games.
However he lacked power off the mark and penetration in his kicking.
Hoping to make a fresh start after completing a great pre-season where he hardly missed a session, Trengove started 2014 in similar form to last season.
He was dropped to the VFL after round two, with senior coach Paul Roos advising him to just enjoy his football.
He knew the pain in his foot was getting worse but he also wondered whether his ability to play had deserted him. Scans on Monday revealed the extent of the problem.
"There was an element of relief there because I've sort of been battling away for the last few weeks second guessing myself wondering, 'Why can't I move the way that I have moved in the past?'" Trengove said.
Despite the seriousness of the injury 22-year-old sees no point in fearing the worst for his career. He is taking a positive approach and looks forward to getting stuck into his rehab.
"I'm one to always see the positive side of it, so I'm just looking forward to getting it all behind me and running out on the ground and training with the boys feeling fit and healthy and 100 percent again," Trengove said.
In the meantime he hopes to sneak in a trip to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July to watch his sister, Jess, represent Australia in the marathon.
Trengove is disappointed but he now has a chance to start again "to get all that behind me and build my body up from scratch and work on the weaknesses that are in my game and hopefully come back and be a better player because of it."