Brown's fear for future
29 April 2007 Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Rakph and David Reed
RICHMOND forward Nathan Brown said yesterday he expected to miss at least another three weeks of football and admitted he was facing the biggest test of his AFL career.
While Brown has been able to get back on the training track in the past week, he needs to build fitness and stay pain-free.
Brown hopes he has turned the corner after a stress fracture relating to the leg he broke in 2005, but admits a return date is uncertain.
"To be honest, I have got no idea (when I'll be back)," he said.
"The doctors are trying to figure it out. It is just a pain thing which will be guiding by me.
"I actually have to have two weeks of solid football training before I play, because of the risk of soft-tissue injury with calves and hamstrings."
Brown told Triple M that, while he remained positive, he had never faced such a challenge as returning from a potentially career-ending injury.
"I would be lying if I said it wasn't worrying me and I think about it a fair bit," he said.
"Everything has come along fairly easily for me for most of my football career. I have played some good football, played in some finals in my early years at the Bulldogs, everything was going well at Richmond - and now everything is turned upside down.
"It's something I really have to deal with internally myself and it's been hard, but everyone has tough times in their life. I am sure I will get through it and be fine."
Coach Terry Wallace said he believed Brown could still play a role this year.
"If you had asked me (if I was concerned) a week ago, the answer would have been yes," Wallace said. "It has been a concern he hasn't been out there, but the signs are on the improve. He is pain-free for the first time in probably a month."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21638578%255E20322,00.html
