ONE TORN ACL, meniscus injuries in both knees and 685 days between AFLW games.
It's been a long road back for talented Adelaide forward Chloe Scheer, but she made her AFLW return against Fremantle on Sunday, finishing with 16 disposals and two tackles.
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"It was a long time coming, and I've been working so hard to get back to the group," Scheer said.
"It was fantastic to be around the girls again. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win (the Crows lost by 30), but like I said, it was great to be out there again with the girls.
"I think we got outplayed. Freo, we knew they were a good side coming into the match, and they proved that. There was nothing we could do, we had a crap game really, and they were the better team on the day."
A celebrated junior - she won the Dutschke Medal as the SAWFL's best and fairest before her 17th birthday - Scheer had already been forced to sit out the first NAB AFLW Draft she was eligible for in 2017 due to a knee reconstruction.
The second injury to her other ACL occurred during the dying minutes of the second quarter of the 2019 Grand Final, and was overshadowed somewhat by superstar teammate Erin Phillips suffering the same injury.
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What eventuated from there was a long, laborious road back to full recovery, with including a separate meniscus injury to both knees, the second of which needed a follow-up operation in December.
"There's been a lot of setbacks. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but I've been strong through it all," Scheer said.
"It's been tough (recovering from the meniscus injuries), but going through two ACLs, nothing compares to that. My teammates and my family have been great support."
Scheer was full of praise for Adelaide skipper Chelsea Randall, who suffered her own torn ACL at the end of 2019, sitting out the 2020 season alongside Scheer.
"She's been my number one support. She knows when I'm feeling down, she'll come over and support me, and she's just a great teammate. I'm so lucky to have her here.
The canny forward is clever around goal and is an instinctive footballer with a booming kick. She's eager to make up for lost time in the AFLW.
"I just want to play at the top level. I know I belong here, everyone tells me that, so I just want to play for the Crows.
"I've only had one season – which was pretty good, I got a premiership out of it – but I just want to play for the girls, they're a great group."
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