DAVID Rodan acknowledges his AFL journey has been a different one, but he says he’s retiring a lucky man, having played 185 AFL matches at three different clubs.
Despite the fact he’s about to undergo his fourth knee reconstruction – and the third on his left knee – Rodan said he had opted to hang up the boots for quality of life and the health of his knee.
And, given he’s had to return from three knee reconstructions – including two from LARS surgery – Rodan drew some rousing laughs when he described his situation.
“I’ve had more comebacks than John Farnham, so it’s been pretty good,” he said.
He later continued the laughs when he optimistically talked about participating in The Footy Show review, which he has excelled at in recent years, with his outstanding dance moves.
“It could be life after footy – I don’t know. I’ll have to have a few calls from [artists] Tinomatic and Justice Crew, so we’ll see where that lies. I’ll speak with management and speak with [club physiotherapist] Gary [Nicholls],” he said with a smile.
Still, all jokes aside, Rodan might’ve comeback from serious injuries, but he also carved out a fine career, which started in 2002 with Richmond, before he joined Port Adelaide in 2007, then Melbourne this year.
Rodan said he was in negotiations about next year before he suffered his knee injury against Adelaide last round.
“If I didn’t do my knee, I would’ve hoped to have been around for another year, but a lot of things factor into that,” he said.
“I’m happy I lasted as long as I did.”
Rodan said plenty of people had approached him in relation to whether they should opt for LARS surgery, but he added that each scenario was different.
“Personally, it was perfect for me. It did what I wanted it to do, which is get me through until the end of my career,” he said.
“It got me through that and I got back as quick as I could, without any wastage of muscle. For my scenario, I was actually pretty happy it got me through. This time, I’ll opt to go the traditional.”
He said his finest season was his first at the Power, when he played all 25 matches.
“I think I played my better footy and I also played in a Grand Final in 2007, which was also a very big highlight, [and despite] going down in the Grand Final, it was a great year,” he said.
“Moving to Melbourne, I’ve only been here one year here at the club, but at the same time, I’ve made some great friends, some lifelong friends and great relationships.
“[I’ve played] a mentor or leader type role, which I’ve enjoyed and later in my career, I’ve really thrived on that, working with some of the guys here. I look forward to taking my three boys to the football and watching these guys develop and taking this football club to the top of the ladder.”
Rodan praised former coach Mark Neeld for showing faith in him to join Melbourne.
“When things finished up at Port Adelaide, he was pretty adamant about getting me here at the football club,” he said.
“He had massive faith in me in what I could bring to the club and things didn’t unfold the way I’d have liked, but that’s the way it is.”
Now, Rodan said he was passionate about taking on a multicultural role in the game.
“I’ve lived through that and when my parents came over at a young age, it wasn’t until we got into a football club that they really felt connected in the community, so that’s what I’ll be doing post-football,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to that, actually.”
Rodan said he had enjoyed a mentor role in his last few years at Port Adelaide and Melbourne. He highlighted Power young gun Chad Wingard and outstanding Melbourne prospects Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Viney as players he had helped along the way.
As for Melbourne, he is bullish about the club’s future.
“I’ve seen these guys train harder than any group that I’ve been involved in,” he said.
“That’s completely honest. The frustration for this group is that we haven’t been able to transfer that into on-field on the weekend.
“I have no doubt and I have unbelievable confidence in these guys that, if they continue to train the way they train, and solely start bringing what they do on the training track to the footy field – I honestly think that this group can take quantum leaps in where they want to be on the ladder, and in consistent finals.”