You hear it all the time, there’s more to life than footy.
Altona playing assistant coach Jayden Post has been grappling with this reality in recent weeks.
When Altona runs out for its elimination final bout with Spotswood at Burbank Oval on Sunday, Post will be absent, in a playing sense, but switched on from a coaching perspective.
Post is the Vikings’ most important player from a structural point of view.
A smart former AFL player who can be used as a swingman from defence to forward when it suits the team at a particular time, Post can also pinch hit in the ruck.
If Vikings’ coach Saade Ghazi was asked to nominate one player he did not want missing the finals, it would be Post.
Three weeks ago, Altona’s worst fears were realised when Post was cut down by an innocuous career-threatening injury.
After being on the receiving end of a couple of corked thighs, it was revealed Post had burst an artery, which put an immediate end to his season, and his football career in jeopardy.
“It was quite threatening to his health,” Ghazi said.
“We thought he’d never play again.
“It was a bit of a freak accident and he ended up with about 25 stitches down his thigh.
“It was a shock when you get the call on a Sunday and he’s saying I’ve got to go into surgery.
“I thought it was something minor,” Ghazi said.
“But, as I discovered, it wasn’t.”
Post was delivered better news by his doctors last week.
The 26-year-old, who played 30 games for Richmond after graduating through the Western Jets, has now been advised that he should be able to continue playing football after he undergoes a long rehabilitation process.
Post has informed the Vikings that he intends to make use of his second chance, too.
“We’ve got some good news this week to say, if he rehabs well, he can give it a go again next year,” Ghazi said.
“He’s got a lot of rehab ahead of him, and is probably not going to be able to run for three or four months.
“We’re not going to see much of him before Christmas, but he’s put his hand up to come back next year and give it a go, at this stage.
“We were only concerned about his health, so there’s a bit of water to go under the bridge.
“He can still play a role this year; he’s the senior assistant coach at the club, so he’ll be able to give me another set of eyes, like he’s been doing the last two games.”
