Knee injury won't stop Bartlett

CALLUM Bartlett couldn't believe his misfortune in April this year.

After mentally and physically surviving pre-season, he was on the verge of commencing his second year as a Geelong Falcon.

He knew the importance of a strong season, given his age and eligibility to be drafted at the end of 2009.

So, when the Newtown native's anterior cruciate ligament popped at the Falcons' final training session before their first game, he had every right to be shattered.

"It was a change of direction thing I've done a million times, except this time I was unbalanced," the 18-year-old told afl.com.au in the lead up to the NAB AFL Draft.

"It was frustrating. The next thing I knew I was at the doctor and physio and getting MRIs."

The small midfielder was given bad news - he would require a full knee reconstruction and 12 months on the sidelines.

However, instead of dropping his head and assuming a negative mentality, Bartlett dove head on into his rehabilitation the following week.

"I didn't have too much time to think about it," he said. "I had good people around me and they put me in the right direction, so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

Bartlett's reconstruction was a textbook case, meaning there was no structural or subsequent ligament damage. 

That didn't change the fact it was his first major injury and one that forced him to readdress the path his 2009 season would take.

Then, he was offered the chance to prove himself somewhat with how he tackled his rehabilitation, instead of on the field as originally planned.

Having made a name for himself in the local area with 17 games for the Falcons and a handful for North Geelong in 2008, Bartlett was presented with an opportunity too good to pass up.

The Cats' recruiting manager Stephen Wells contacted Bartlett and offered him the chance to complete part of his recovery at Skilled Stadium with facilities used by the 2009 premiers.

The club's doctor Chris Bradshaw provided the youngster with a program, which involved once-monthly sessions at the AFL club.

"It was really good to take the first few steps through there and get an understanding of what I was supposed to do," Bartlett said.

"It was more motivating as well because it was a professional AFL club and it had all the equipment."

The Cats checked with Falcons manager Mick Turner to ensure their offer wouldn't contravene the draft or hamper Bartlett's prospects.

It was decided he could take on the program devised by Bradshaw and fitness and conditioning manager Paul Haines. 

"I said, 'Well look, there's 16 clubs out there and if he's doing his rehab at Geelong, anyone can still draft him'," Turner said.

"All the clubs want him to do is to get better, so that was really good of the Geelong footy club, we appreciated it and so did Cal."

Throughout the year, Bartlett remained focused on the positives of his situation. He increased his upper body strength, and was buoyed by the fact he wasn't able to play a bad game or perform poorly at draft camp.

According to Turner, he also developed his knowledge of the game.

"He got heavily involved with the coaching side of things," he said. "He did player edits for us, did statistics, sat in the coaches' box, did a whole range of things as well as his rehab and probably learnt a lot more about the game.

"He fitness-tested at the start of the year and his results were outstanding, so even though he hasn't played a game, when clubs go back to last year's edits and put his best together, it's outstanding."

Bartlett's diligent approach to his rehabilitation, which is now in its final stages, has kept him as a firm chance to become an AFL-listed player this Thursday night.

Rated as a likely top-30 selection, he has retained the potential to climb as high as the first round despite his 2009 absence.

Geelong star Joel Selwood provided Bartlett with the perfect inspiration. The Cats' midfielder slipped through to pick No.7 in 2007 when clubs were scared off by his troublesome knee.

"He definitely strengthens my case, even though he was a little bit ahead of me when he got injured," he said.

"But maybe someone will take the same sort of chance on me."

Turner agrees, and thinks Bartlett will not be overlooked.

"All a boy needs to show you is that he can play," he said. "They don't lose their ability. If they get injured like Selwood did or Bartlett did, sometimes a bit of a year off can actually be good for them. It can actually freshen them up at that age."

The Falcons have offered Bartlett a spot on their list as a 19-year-old for next season if he doesn't hear his name called on Thursday.

"If I don't get picked up, training is the next day so I'll get down there and have another crack," he said.

"I don't know what to expect yet. I'm not going to the draft - I'll probably just sit at home. I might watch it, I might not. I might go out. I don't think I'll do much - we might go out for tea.

"I'm trying not to think too much about it, really."

Bartlett will commence competitive work in December and aims to be available for round one next year.

Log on to afl.com.au on D-day, Thursday, November 26, for the most comprehensive coverage of the 2009 NAB AFL Draft. We’ll have live chats, live audio streams, in-depth player profiles, club reaction and our famous afl.com.au Draft Tracker.