Reid Adams says “it is very unlikely” he will play again after scans confirmed the Barwon Heads midfielder has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the second time in his career.
The 29-year-old former St Joseph’s star also damaged his MCL after a Modewarre opponent dived across Reid’s boot to smother the ball during last week’s opening quarter of the Seagulls’ win at Mt Moriac.
It was just his fifth game back after having called time on his career at the end of the 2022 season, where he finished runner-up in Joeys’ best-and-fairest.
“I don’t think I can do this again,” Adams said, “A little bit like ‘Kersh’ (former St Joseph’s teammate Riley Kershaw) when he made that call after his second.
“For local footy, it’s a big ask to go through that surgery for a third time.
“So, it’s unlikely I’ll be playing again.”
Adams was prepared for a lengthy stint on the sidelines when the incident occurred.
“It felt like something serious had happened,” he said.
“Whether or not it was the ACL, I thought I’d be missing an extended period of footy.
“I know the label of the ACL means it needs a reconstruction. But I’d already resigned myself to spending a fair bit of time on the sidelines.
“It is what it is. I’m OK with it. It’s footy – it happens.”
Adams, who played with the Geelong Falcons and spent a season with VFL club Williamstown in 2014, is content with his career achievements.
He is a two-time premiership player at Joeys, featuring in their drought-breaking 2015 success and the mauling of St Mary’s in 2017.
A hamstring injury in 2018 stopped him from being a triple-premiership player.
Adams, who joined Barwon Heads to play alongside good mates James Allen and Brock Close, says he’ll miss the camaraderie of being part of a team.
“It’s the enjoyment and purpose footy gives you, and the structure around working is a lot of fun,” Adams said.
“You definitely enjoy the Tuesdays and Thursdays with the boys, who are similarly-minded and good fellas.
“You don’t get that in a lot of places outside of sports.
“That social side of things is really important, and I’ve always enjoyed that.”
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