Firstly, how has it been to kick out the cobwebs with the Sandringham seconds over the past three weeks?
RP: It was a big load off my shoulders. I played round one and I probably wasn't up to scratch and I probably shouldn't have played in hindsight. I took 10 weeks off and tried to get my body right and tried to get it strong again. I feel better and stronger in my core, so it's been a lot of hard work and a lot of patience over 10 weeks. It's come off for the best and I was just happy to get back out there three weeks ago and get the run under my belt.
After playing in the AFL, what's it like returning via the Sandy seconds?
RP: When I first got here, I knew that Sandy was a very successful club and I always thought it would be hard to get into their ones. The first time I went down there to train, the boys were really good – just like they are here [at Melbourne]. They've been really good for us and some of the Sandy boys have given me some tips along the way. Since I've got back and have been playing in the twos, those boys have been really good too -- they don't exclude you, so it's been really having a kick with them.
The form hasn't been bad either; just a lazy 40-odd touches in your second match back.
RP: That's correct (laughs). I got 41 touches against Casey.
Granted, that's at a lower level than the AFL, but it's still a remarkable effort, considering it was just your second match back from injury. Considering what you've been through, that must've given you a lot of confidence?
RP: It did. I was down on confidence and I didn't know if I could actually be at the stage that I wanted to be. I always played on the ball as a junior so hopefully I can keep going along with that. I got my hands on the ball, had a good blow-out and followed that on with last weekend onball as well.
Would you like to play in the midfield long-term?
RP: Definitely. I used to love playing on the half-back line, but I think I've got a lot to offer onball. I played there all of my junior career – everyone has when they come to an AFL club – but I feel like I can get my confidence up and going when I play onball. That's where I enjoy playing my footy.
The time on out the game this season has all been groin-related?
RP: Yes, I had osteitis pubis and it was nothing to do with the lung. It got pretty bad at one point and it wasn't healing as fast as we'd liked – I had a couple of upsets along the way – but I'm feeling no pain whatsoever in my groins anymore, so it's actually worked.
Can you pin-point specifically when it actually occurred?
RP: It happened in the pre-season in the NAB Cup. It was probably three games before round one, when I started to feel it. The doctors and I talked about it and they said I could push through it or it might go away with some of the treatment, because it wasn't so severe at this stage, but it didn't go away and from the first NAB Cup game, it was just so much more intense and I just felt it a lot more and it got pretty bad.
On top of suffering a life-threatening punctured lung last year, you must have thought what have I done to deserve this setback?
RP: I keep telling myself it's not going to get any worse. I never expected to be out for another 10 weeks. I was out from round 14 last year and from rounds one to 10 this year … and as long as I continue to put in the effort and preparation during the week, then I feel like I'm confident with my body now.
Football fans often don't understand what it takes for players to return to the field after serious injuries – in many respects you're a classic case after your setbacks. Do you believe there is enough understanding from the football public with situations like yours?
RP: Probably not. The punctured lung was pretty serious … It took a couple of days to actually sink in, but that's the way I think about it now. I'm back playing footy, so that's all that matters. I can't thank the docs enough for what they did – I'm in a lifetime of debt to them – but it was serious. I was a couple of minutes off [from death] they say, but since I'm playing footy again, I seem to forget about it and sometimes, if I do feel down, I think about it and how lucky I am to be at the Melbourne Football Club with all of the boys.
How vividly do you remember the incident when you punctured your lung?
RP: I remember everything of it. I remember losing my breath and going purple and getting stabbed in my chest. A lot of people think I wouldn't remember it, but it sticks out to me (laughs)!
For part two click here
