IT’S BEEN A TOUGH season for Melbourne’s most experienced player, Brad Green.
After being appointed Melbourne captain in 2010, he was overlooked for a second season in the post this year, and was dropped following round two - the first time since round 19, 2003.
He then played his first VFL match for Casey and broke his finger, subsequently missing the next three matches.
A one match return with the Scorpions resulted in a recall, but it proved to be a disappointing one for Green, who was part of Melbourne’s 101-point loss to Sydney Swans at the SCG.
And to top off his frustrations, Green copped an accidental knee in the ribs from Carlton youngster Josh Bootsma on Sunday at the MCG. It forced the veteran from the field and to hospital, as he explained.
“I remember getting whacked and getting the ball out to the guys. I got hit from the side ... and I was winded. I remember players coming over, and the doc running over, and I was just trying to get my breath back,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“Getting back into the game, I felt not too bad, and then all of a sudden I was short of breath, and started feeling clots of blood coming up at the back of my throat, and a bit of coughing up blood.
“So I thought ‘that’s not too good, I’d better go and see what the doc thinks about this’. I ran off and asked the doc what was happening, and he said ‘we should look into it a bit’.”
Although Green went down to the rooms, he returned to the field at the quarter time break. Despite his eagerness to return, he was subbed off for Jamie Bennell, and taken to Epworth Hospital.
“At quarter time I was still breathing heavily [and I] couldn’t get my momentum back. [The doc] said ‘we’ll pull you off and we’ll put you in an ambulance and we’ll take you off to hospital’,” he said.
“Once I got to hospital, I just got all the checks, all the CT scans and things, and basically found that I had no major damage. They probably couldn’t explain where the blood was coming from, and just thought it was in the region of my lungs and ribs.
“It was a bit bruised and battered, but at the end of the day it’s all pretty good.”
After being appointed Melbourne captain in 2010, he was overlooked for a second season in the post this year, and was dropped following round two - the first time since round 19, 2003.
He then played his first VFL match for Casey and broke his finger, subsequently missing the next three matches.
A one match return with the Scorpions resulted in a recall, but it proved to be a disappointing one for Green, who was part of Melbourne’s 101-point loss to Sydney Swans at the SCG.
And to top off his frustrations, Green copped an accidental knee in the ribs from Carlton youngster Josh Bootsma on Sunday at the MCG. It forced the veteran from the field and to hospital, as he explained.
“I remember getting whacked and getting the ball out to the guys. I got hit from the side ... and I was winded. I remember players coming over, and the doc running over, and I was just trying to get my breath back,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“Getting back into the game, I felt not too bad, and then all of a sudden I was short of breath, and started feeling clots of blood coming up at the back of my throat, and a bit of coughing up blood.
“So I thought ‘that’s not too good, I’d better go and see what the doc thinks about this’. I ran off and asked the doc what was happening, and he said ‘we should look into it a bit’.”
Although Green went down to the rooms, he returned to the field at the quarter time break. Despite his eagerness to return, he was subbed off for Jamie Bennell, and taken to Epworth Hospital.
“At quarter time I was still breathing heavily [and I] couldn’t get my momentum back. [The doc] said ‘we’ll pull you off and we’ll put you in an ambulance and we’ll take you off to hospital’,” he said.
“Once I got to hospital, I just got all the checks, all the CT scans and things, and basically found that I had no major damage. They probably couldn’t explain where the blood was coming from, and just thought it was in the region of my lungs and ribs.
“It was a bit bruised and battered, but at the end of the day it’s all pretty good.”
Remarkably, Green is still preparing to take on Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night, although he faces a fitness test.
“I’ll hopefully be right to play this weekend. I’ll be convincing the doc ... because I feel good and I want to play. So I’ll be telling them that I want to get up for this weekend and play,” he said.
“[On Monday] I came in and got checked up again, and went home and rested up, so [on Tuesday] I feel pretty good. I’ve had a day and a half to two days’ rest, and I’m feeling really good to get back into training.”
When reflecting on the hurdles he has faced in 2012, Green acknowledged it had been a frustrating season.
“I played the first two games, got dropped - which I had no problems with - I wasn’t playing the best footy and the side wasn’t playing great either, and something needed to happen,” he said.
“I went down to play for Casey, and unfortunately I broke my finger in the second quarter of that game and missed three weeks with a finger, then came back, played one game at Casey, and then got put back in the side against Sydney. So, it’s been a rollercoaster, no doubt, with everything that’s gone on.
“I’m really enjoying being part of this group, and part of the new coaching structure. No doubt everybody out there - and I’m a supporter and a player as well - it’s frustrating that we’re not getting any wins on the board, but I can see an improvement, which is good.”
Although Green could understand why Melbourne supporters were upset by its 2012 form, he stressed that time was needed under new coach Mark Neeld.
“The list is certainly young, but we’ve got a lot of improvement left in the group, and that’s the frustrating thing people can’t see,” he said.
“We had eight wins last year, and the same the year before and even yourself, you start asking questions. Why can’t the boys improve and why can’t we win games of footy? No doubt, all the boys will be thinking that themselves.
“Things take time to settle, and it’s totally different the way we’re playing and what we’ve been used to over the last few years.”
Green said he felt the players started to grasp Neeld’s game plan for most of the match against Carlton, before its disappointing final term.
“We played a half to nearly three quarters on the weekend. And I felt while I was playing out there that we’ve got this game and we’re right in the mix to beat Carlton on the weekend,” he said.
“That’s what I really felt - that the boys were up and about -and I’m sensing over the next few weeks we’ll no doubt knock out our first win.”
The 2010 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy winner and 2011 Australian International Rules captain is on the cusp of playing 250 matches for the Demons.
He has played 245 to this point, but he said it was not a driving force for him to become the eighth player to reach and surpass this milestone.
“I don’t [think about it],” he said.
“Milestones are probably something I’ll look back on when my career finishes, but for me, I can’t think of anything better than just getting a win on the board for the boys, the club, the supporters and everyone. That’d be more important for me than reaching 250.
“At the end of the day, it’s a nice milestone, but I’d rather be singing the song and sitting down with the boys after a win. But 250 games - I can hopefully look back on that when she’s all done and dusted.”
It also begs the question: does Green want to push on and play in 2013? But the 31 year-old is realistic about his future.
“I’m not looking too far ahead. No doubt, my career is coming to an end and when that is - I don’t know. But no doubt, I’m closer to the end than the start,” he said.
“Over the next month or two, I’ve probably got to start thinking - do I want to go on or is this going to be my last? I’m in my 30s and footy is not getting any easier.
“The mind wants to keep playing, but sometimes the body can slow down on you. But as long as I keep enjoying it and the people around here want me, I’ll keep playing and do the best I can. No doubt, it’s coming to the end and that’s a bit sad, but that’s life and that’s footy.”
Green conceded it would be a tough day when his career eventually comes to an end.
“No doubt, when you’ve spent half of your life in an organisation and you’re very proud of the history with it - at the Melbourne Football Club ... where we play and what we’ve grown up and achieved - we’ve played finals footy and played in a grand final,” he said.
“I know what it’s like to play finals and I really want our boys to get there, so that’s why I’m a little unfulfilled and wanting to help and get there.
“But I can’t go on forever and it’s going to be a sad day when it’s time to hang it up. It’s coming that way, but you never know - footy’s a strange game and I’d just love to keep playing for as long as I can, but it is coming closer.”
Still, Green said, “life away from footy is great” at the moment, particularly as he focuses on family.
“My wife and I have got a two and a bit year old son and we’ve got another child due in August, which is 10 to 12 weeks away, which is going to be fantastic,” he said.
“We’re going to have two kids and that’ll keep us busy, but the family is really good, so they’re fantastic. I love going home and Oliver puts a smile on my face every day. To see him grow up and change every day is terrific. That part of it couldn’t be better - I’m loving it.”
The Tasmanian also didn’t rule out the possibility of coaching in the future, having dipped his toe in the water.
“I’m doing some coaching stuff at the moment. I’ve done my level two and I’m doing the next coach program with David Wheadon, which is all about preparing for life after footy in the coaching arena,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying that and it’s something that I could see myself doing once footy finishes.
“I’ll never say never with anything in life, but I’m really enjoying that aspect as well.”
“I’ll hopefully be right to play this weekend. I’ll be convincing the doc ... because I feel good and I want to play. So I’ll be telling them that I want to get up for this weekend and play,” he said.
“[On Monday] I came in and got checked up again, and went home and rested up, so [on Tuesday] I feel pretty good. I’ve had a day and a half to two days’ rest, and I’m feeling really good to get back into training.”
When reflecting on the hurdles he has faced in 2012, Green acknowledged it had been a frustrating season.
“I played the first two games, got dropped - which I had no problems with - I wasn’t playing the best footy and the side wasn’t playing great either, and something needed to happen,” he said.
“I went down to play for Casey, and unfortunately I broke my finger in the second quarter of that game and missed three weeks with a finger, then came back, played one game at Casey, and then got put back in the side against Sydney. So, it’s been a rollercoaster, no doubt, with everything that’s gone on.
“I’m really enjoying being part of this group, and part of the new coaching structure. No doubt everybody out there - and I’m a supporter and a player as well - it’s frustrating that we’re not getting any wins on the board, but I can see an improvement, which is good.”
Although Green could understand why Melbourne supporters were upset by its 2012 form, he stressed that time was needed under new coach Mark Neeld.
“The list is certainly young, but we’ve got a lot of improvement left in the group, and that’s the frustrating thing people can’t see,” he said.
“We had eight wins last year, and the same the year before and even yourself, you start asking questions. Why can’t the boys improve and why can’t we win games of footy? No doubt, all the boys will be thinking that themselves.
“Things take time to settle, and it’s totally different the way we’re playing and what we’ve been used to over the last few years.”
Green said he felt the players started to grasp Neeld’s game plan for most of the match against Carlton, before its disappointing final term.
“We played a half to nearly three quarters on the weekend. And I felt while I was playing out there that we’ve got this game and we’re right in the mix to beat Carlton on the weekend,” he said.
“That’s what I really felt - that the boys were up and about -and I’m sensing over the next few weeks we’ll no doubt knock out our first win.”
The 2010 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy winner and 2011 Australian International Rules captain is on the cusp of playing 250 matches for the Demons.
He has played 245 to this point, but he said it was not a driving force for him to become the eighth player to reach and surpass this milestone.
“I don’t [think about it],” he said.
“Milestones are probably something I’ll look back on when my career finishes, but for me, I can’t think of anything better than just getting a win on the board for the boys, the club, the supporters and everyone. That’d be more important for me than reaching 250.
“At the end of the day, it’s a nice milestone, but I’d rather be singing the song and sitting down with the boys after a win. But 250 games - I can hopefully look back on that when she’s all done and dusted.”
It also begs the question: does Green want to push on and play in 2013? But the 31 year-old is realistic about his future.
“I’m not looking too far ahead. No doubt, my career is coming to an end and when that is - I don’t know. But no doubt, I’m closer to the end than the start,” he said.
“Over the next month or two, I’ve probably got to start thinking - do I want to go on or is this going to be my last? I’m in my 30s and footy is not getting any easier.
“The mind wants to keep playing, but sometimes the body can slow down on you. But as long as I keep enjoying it and the people around here want me, I’ll keep playing and do the best I can. No doubt, it’s coming to the end and that’s a bit sad, but that’s life and that’s footy.”
Green conceded it would be a tough day when his career eventually comes to an end.
“No doubt, when you’ve spent half of your life in an organisation and you’re very proud of the history with it - at the Melbourne Football Club ... where we play and what we’ve grown up and achieved - we’ve played finals footy and played in a grand final,” he said.
“I know what it’s like to play finals and I really want our boys to get there, so that’s why I’m a little unfulfilled and wanting to help and get there.
“But I can’t go on forever and it’s going to be a sad day when it’s time to hang it up. It’s coming that way, but you never know - footy’s a strange game and I’d just love to keep playing for as long as I can, but it is coming closer.”
Still, Green said, “life away from footy is great” at the moment, particularly as he focuses on family.
“My wife and I have got a two and a bit year old son and we’ve got another child due in August, which is 10 to 12 weeks away, which is going to be fantastic,” he said.
“We’re going to have two kids and that’ll keep us busy, but the family is really good, so they’re fantastic. I love going home and Oliver puts a smile on my face every day. To see him grow up and change every day is terrific. That part of it couldn’t be better - I’m loving it.”
The Tasmanian also didn’t rule out the possibility of coaching in the future, having dipped his toe in the water.
“I’m doing some coaching stuff at the moment. I’ve done my level two and I’m doing the next coach program with David Wheadon, which is all about preparing for life after footy in the coaching arena,” he said.
“I’m really enjoying that and it’s something that I could see myself doing once footy finishes.
“I’ll never say never with anything in life, but I’m really enjoying that aspect as well.”
