Danny
11-06-2004, 10:28 AM
Here's an unusual injury experienced by Jeff White, the Melbourne ruckman.
White hangs on for life and limp
11 June 2004 Herald Sun
Scott Gullan
JEFF White was warned he could lose his leg if a chronic shin problem became infected.
The Melbourne ruckman has revealed for the first time the gravity of the shin injury that threatened to end his career last year.
White was told by a leading plastic surgeon that he was vulnerable to gangrene because of the constant reopening of the nasty wound on his right shin.
Since 2000 the Demons star has opened the wound 11 times, requiring stitching, and had three major operations.
"(I was told) you run the risk of gangrene, of getting the leg infected," White said.
"When someone says that to you, a plastic surgeon with 25 years' experience, it's scary.
"Footy is my passion, my love and I would do anything to be out there but when those sorts of things happen it makes you wonder."
Demons football operations manager Danny Corcoran admitted the club had started to prepare for life without its star follower.
"They (doctors) were worried about him getting a bone infection and dying," he said.
"That's how serious it was and we were only worried about looking after him, making every decision that was in his best interest."
With his confidence shot and critics lining up to bag him, White had surgery for a third time in June last year in a desperate bid to fix the problem.
"Last year when I had my last operation the doctor said, 'Look, I've stitched it up, pulled some of the tissue from the calf right around but your shin can only take so much'," White said.
"It was crunch time then.
"So I went and saw a plastic surgeon on the Gold Coast to get some medical advice but they couldn't do anything.
"I saw a plastic surgeon in Melbourne and they couldn't do anything so it was just a matter of coming up with the right shin guard and a friend of the family did."
White, 27, is adamant his career would have ended if he hadn't found the new guard which diverts the pressure from the hot spot on his shin to higher up the leg.
"I owe a lot to this shin guard because if it wasn't for it I wouldn't be where I am right now," he said.
"(At best) it would have been hard for me to play in the ruck."
Demons coach Neale Daniher praised White's courage throughout the ordeal.
"He was in a situation where his career was in jeopardy and we couldn't explain it to the supporters," Daniher said.
"I mean it is very courageous to get out there again and run in at the centre bounce.
"People at the end of the year were saying we should trade Jeff White but I just told him why would we want to clear our best players.
"We not only had the injury to deal with but also had to deal with all the outside noise in regards to where his career was at. It just shows he's got a mental strength about him."
With his body right and fitness back, White has been pivotal in Melbourne's rejuvenation this season.
Last week against Fremantle at Subiaco he took on three Docker giants -- Aaron Sandilands, Troy Simmonds and Justin Longmuir -- and ran over the top of them, being instrumental in the Demons' final quarter charge to victory.
"I am just grateful to be out there, grateful to be training with the boys and playing footy," White said.
White hangs on for life and limp
11 June 2004 Herald Sun
Scott Gullan
JEFF White was warned he could lose his leg if a chronic shin problem became infected.
The Melbourne ruckman has revealed for the first time the gravity of the shin injury that threatened to end his career last year.
White was told by a leading plastic surgeon that he was vulnerable to gangrene because of the constant reopening of the nasty wound on his right shin.
Since 2000 the Demons star has opened the wound 11 times, requiring stitching, and had three major operations.
"(I was told) you run the risk of gangrene, of getting the leg infected," White said.
"When someone says that to you, a plastic surgeon with 25 years' experience, it's scary.
"Footy is my passion, my love and I would do anything to be out there but when those sorts of things happen it makes you wonder."
Demons football operations manager Danny Corcoran admitted the club had started to prepare for life without its star follower.
"They (doctors) were worried about him getting a bone infection and dying," he said.
"That's how serious it was and we were only worried about looking after him, making every decision that was in his best interest."
With his confidence shot and critics lining up to bag him, White had surgery for a third time in June last year in a desperate bid to fix the problem.
"Last year when I had my last operation the doctor said, 'Look, I've stitched it up, pulled some of the tissue from the calf right around but your shin can only take so much'," White said.
"It was crunch time then.
"So I went and saw a plastic surgeon on the Gold Coast to get some medical advice but they couldn't do anything.
"I saw a plastic surgeon in Melbourne and they couldn't do anything so it was just a matter of coming up with the right shin guard and a friend of the family did."
White, 27, is adamant his career would have ended if he hadn't found the new guard which diverts the pressure from the hot spot on his shin to higher up the leg.
"I owe a lot to this shin guard because if it wasn't for it I wouldn't be where I am right now," he said.
"(At best) it would have been hard for me to play in the ruck."
Demons coach Neale Daniher praised White's courage throughout the ordeal.
"He was in a situation where his career was in jeopardy and we couldn't explain it to the supporters," Daniher said.
"I mean it is very courageous to get out there again and run in at the centre bounce.
"People at the end of the year were saying we should trade Jeff White but I just told him why would we want to clear our best players.
"We not only had the injury to deal with but also had to deal with all the outside noise in regards to where his career was at. It just shows he's got a mental strength about him."
With his body right and fitness back, White has been pivotal in Melbourne's rejuvenation this season.
Last week against Fremantle at Subiaco he took on three Docker giants -- Aaron Sandilands, Troy Simmonds and Justin Longmuir -- and ran over the top of them, being instrumental in the Demons' final quarter charge to victory.
"I am just grateful to be out there, grateful to be training with the boys and playing footy," White said.