Winged Kookaburra Eyeing Return

Injured Australian Kookaburras and WA Smokefree Thundersticks defender Graeme Begbie has spent almost nine months on the sidelines after undergoing a complete knee reconstruction, but as the AIS-WAIS scholarship holder explains to Inside WAIS, he is ready for a return.

Remarkably, it’s an injury that first began almost 11-years ago when the now 25-year-old damaged his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Begbie said that because he was still a growing teenager, his knee learnt to adapt.

“I gradually got back into things and my leg muscles learnt to accommodate without the ACL,” he said.

“After a while I couldn’t really feel anything wrong with my knee.”

Medical staff listed it as a 12-month injury from the beginning, but Begbie admitted it’s been extremely tough on the sidelines.

“I’ve been out of action for eight-and-half months, it’s felt like eight-and-half years,” he said.

“Because the injury was to the cartilage and bone I’ve had to go really slow in getting back into things.

“Bone injuries take a long time to heal, so for quite a while it didn’t feel like it was getting better, which was pretty frustrating.”

He plans to make an early return through the national competition before the Champions Trophy in New Delhi, India.

“I’m hoping to be back by August to play in the AHL finals week with the Thundersticks, then there’s some matches with the Kookaburras before the Champions Trophy in December,” he said.

Begbie said the rehabilitation process has recently stepped up, as he regains his fitness.

“Early on when I couldn’t do much I did a bit of swimming and then when I could do a little more I rode the exercise bike,” he said.

“I’ve been doing a lot of gym work on the legs, and started getting back into the running now, so hopefully it will keep progressing.”

While long-term injuries are associated with free time on the sidelines, Begbie’s schedule has meant limited spare time.

“I work full-time in Health & Safety so I’ve been really busy combining that with gym and I still go to AIS, Thundersticks and my club team trainings,” he said.

Injury recoveries don’t always go to plan, however the World Cup gold medallist is confident he’s on the right track and that it won’t effect his qualification for the Olympic team.

“The knee’s still got a long way to go, but I think it’s heading in the right direction and I’ve still got some time up my sleeve until the Champions Trophy,” Begbie said.

“If I’m back playing by the end of this year then I still have six months until the Olympics, so there’s time to get fitness and form back.

“I was fairly happy with the way I was playing before the injury and I’m confident I can get back and get better before the Olympics.”

– Beau Pearson