Graham Polak kicks footy on road to recovery
Carly Crawford | July 17, 2008
INJURED Tiger Graham Polak is striding down the long road to recovery, joking with mates and even kicking a football.
Richmond players have rallied around the key defender, with captain Kane Johnson and midfielder Cameron Howat visiting the 24-year-old at Epworth Hospital in Richmond yesterday.
The Tigers chatted and shared a laugh as they strolled to a rehab unit across the road from the hospital.
With them was Polak's girlfriend Alyce Oksuz, who has barely left his side since the tram accident that left him with a brain injury 20 days ago.
Their short trip offered Richmond fans a rare public glimpse of the crash survivor who, despite his ability to walk unaided, was being moved around in a wheelchair until recently.
'Polly' was spotted soaking up the sun and kicking a football about 10m under the gaze of medics behind the rehab centre this week.
His determination lifted the Tigers to their stunning 77-point win against West Coast at Subiaco on Sunday, a match the team dedicated to their teammate of 18 months.
He is expected to miss the rest of the season.
The teammates who were with him on the night of the crash, Cleve Hughes and Jordan McMahon, have had counselling and Hughes visited Polak last week.
Polak was placed in an induced coma in the Alfred Hospital after the June 28 accident outside his flat on Dandenong Road.
He had been on his way to meet Oksuz after a club function earlier in the evening.
Six days later - after reaching the milestones of walking alone and eating his first meal - he was transferred to the Epworth for a sustained rehabilitation program.
In the days after the tragedy, he suffered post-traumatic amnesia and had been unable to recognise visitors.
Polak spent most days sleeping.
His recovery has been described by those close to him as a rollercoaster ride, with moments of strong progress and others of grim disappointment.
Wallace said last week he was impressed with the gains Polak had made.
"We had a couple of boys pretty emotional after the game in the rooms, as from our point of view we are a family and Polly is certainly part of that family," Wallace said.
"When one of your family goes down, it's up to everyone to rally around him."
Players kept their distance for about a fortnight, but since then the South Australian has had a steady stream of well-wishers.
Johnson said the accident had galvanised the group.
Richmond club doctor Greg Hickey said Polak was responding well to treatment for post-traumatic amnesia.
"Graham continues to make significant gains. His cognitive function is improving and the outlook remains positive," Dr Hickey said.
It is not known how long Polak will have to stay at the Epworth Rehabilitation Centre, but Dr Hickey said Oksuz and Polak's family visited daily and his progress was very positive so far.
The Richmond Football Club said yesterday Polak had received more than 2000 messages of support from fans since the accident.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24032894-19742,00.html
