Listing an incentive for tram crash victim Graham Polak
Glenn McFarlane | November 16, 2008 12:00am
RICHMOND never considered asking the AFL for a special concession over Graham Polak's tram accident, because the club wanted to give him something to strive for.
Coach Terry Wallace said the Tigers could have sought assistance in a manner similar to Essendon rookie listing of Adam Ramanauskas in 2006 after his second battle with cancer.
But Wallace did not think it was in Polak's best interests and wanted to give him the incentive to play again, if doctors allow him to return.
"One of the things we wanted to do first up was to leave Graham on the list," Wallace said this week. "We could have tried to get compensation from the AFL. But we thought from Graham's point of view that we wanted to keep the door open and the light shining there.
"At the end of the day, he knows his position is there and he has something to strive for."
Wallace said Polak, who suffered a severe head injury after being hit by a tram in June, had come a long way in his recovery, but it remained unclear whether he would play again.
"Clearly it is going to be a long process, but the pleasing factor is that we are seeing improvement on a regular basis," he said.
"What line of improvement that is, we will have to wait and see. If he is living his life as a happy, healthy 70-year-old, that's the most important thing. The rest will look after itself."
Wallace said it was a very different story when he visited Polak in the Alfred Hospital less than 48 hours after the accident.
"Graham was basically in the fetal position and I didn't think there was going to be quality of life at that stage," he said.
Less than five months on, Polak is back at training, doing a modified program under the eyes of Richmond's fitness and medical staff. He is keen to play AFL football again.
He still has short-term memory loss and has a few balance issues, but he has been told to expect further improvement over the next year.
Wallace said the fact Polak was back training and mixing with his teammates had been a key part of his recovery.
"The whole thing has always been about the welfare of Graham as a bloke," he said.
"I think he has enjoyed being around the club again. Physically, he is doing up to the limits but not over the limits. We have got the right people to guide him as far as training goes. Medically, we have got the people on board.
"He is always around his mates, so that's good, too.
"I think from a footy aspect we are getting him to do some work now. The fact he is doing those things on a daily basis helps. All those things packaged together makes the club a good place for Graham to be."
Wallace said he did not know what sort of impact having Polak back would have on the playing group, but he could see only positives.
"I do know it will be a daily reminder of what football, and life, can present," he said.
"If any person was feeling a bit sorry for themselves they would only have to have a look at him running on the treadmill to realise what the last few months have presented for him.
"Players sometimes lead a sheltered life, so that adds a bit of a reality check for us all."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24657130-19742,00.html
