Broken foot no barrier for Sharks VC

A broken foot couldn’t hold back East Fremantle Football Club Vice Captain this year as he still managed to take out fairest and best for the League side.

As part of a new partnership with St John of God Murdoch Hospital’s Private Emergency Department, the club is receiving a financial boost for the 2020 season and sporting new signage on the oval.

With the partnership promoting the Hospital’s new 24/7 orthopaedic surgeon roster, Sharks player Matthew Jupp knows all too well the impact an injury can have for players.

He played the last eight games of the season with a broken bone.

“It was really tough to play with a broken foot. Technically it was a sesamoid, a small bone in the foot that shattered in the middle of a game when I stubbed my toe.

“I knew something was wrong immediately and went straight off to the bench. The physio wanted to take my boot off but I knew I’d never get it back on. My foot was swollen for about a week after the injury and I was lucky that we had a bye so I had a chance to rest it.”

Matthew said it was a steely determination and commitment to his role at the club that kept him pushing through the pain.

“It kind of sounds super human but to be honest once you are warmed up and the adrenaline of the game kicks in, it wasn’t too bad,” he said.

“I also had a steel plate in my boot that helped stop the flex of my foot and gave it some stability. The hardest part about it all was training, because there is a lot of stop-start and a lack of adrenaline, so it was a lot more painful.

“Part of delaying treatment was about being there for the team. As one of the more senior players at the club, and in good form before the injury, I wanted to be around to give a bit of guidance and fulfil my duties as Vice Captain.”

An accolade for any player, Matthew still managed to take out fairest and best in 2019 despite his injury.

He sought treatment as soon as the season finished, from lower limb and sporting orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dror Maor at St John of God Murdoch Hospital.

“Whether playing on made any difference he couldn’t really say, but it certainly didn’t help,” he said.

“After surgery at Murdoch I now have a permanent metal pin in the bottom of my foot to hold that bone together.”

Matthew had surgery in October and spent six week on crutches, before the past month in a moonboot. He’ll now spend the next few weeks building back up his strength and hopes for a return to full form around February next year.

His goals for 2020 include supporting his club to reach and play finals. With a career average of 14 disposals and 5.2 marks per game, the full back is looking forward to a pain free season.

“The Sharks haven’t played finals for about five years so we’ve been working towards making and playing finals,” Matthew said.

“Besides supporting the team to make finals I have a few little personal milestones I’d like to reach too, including playing state footy which they select in the first few rounds of the season.”

Chief Executive Officer Ben Edwards said St John of God Murdoch Hospital’s Orthopaedic Trauma service was proud to support several local sports clubs in 2020.

“Our Orthopaedic Trauma service is available through our emergency department, which is open 24 hours a day,” he said.

“For our sports clubs playing and training on weekends and after hours this means any injuries can be assessed and treated around the clock, giving local players the best chance of full recovery.”