Esava Ratugolea to ‘stay away’ from Port Adelaide during early rehab for ‘most painful’ ruptured patella tendon The 27-year-old is still in excruciating pain and doesn’t plan on returning to his club for some time.
The 27-year-old is still in excruciating pain and doesn’t plan on returning to his club for some time.
Esava Ratugolea opens up on serious knee injury
(Source: 7NEWS)
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Esava Ratugolea says he will distance himself from Port Adelaide and the AFL environment until he is deeper into the recovery from his painful season-ending knee injury.
The 27-year-old suffered a ruptured patella tendon in the loss to Collingwood on Saturday night and swiftly underwent successful surgery.
He returned to Adelaide on Tuesday but remains unable to stand, let alone walk, while the excruciating pain is lingering.
The initial sensation was so significant Ratugolea initially thought it was a different injury altogether.
“All I can remember is just going up for a high ball really, a contest, like any other mark really, and then I just remembered my leg giving way under me,” he told 7NEWS Adelaide.
At first I thought I’d broken my leg, but I checked my knee and (it was) sort of out of place and didn’t know where my kneecap was so (I) didn’t get off too good.”
Ratugolea suffered a broken ankle in 2018 during his time with Geelong but said his latest injury is “definitely one of the most painful I’ve ever had”.
“(The pain) lasted a lot longer too,” he said.
“The last couple of days have been pretty tough, pretty painful, but taking a lot of painkillers at the moment.
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“Yeah, a bit of a long road ahead of us.”
With a 12-month recovery timeline it is uncertain just how much football Ratugolea will play in 2027.
He is, however, ready to dig in with the backing of a contract for 2028.
But there is little solace in going down not just in the middle of one of his best games but during an impressive run of form this year.
“I’ve probably struggled a lot in my career with continuity and especially in my body,” Ratugolea said.
“So it’s a bit frustrating when you get an injury like this, a big setback and you’ve got to restart again.
“But I’ve spent my time in rehab a bit so I know what it’s all about and I’m prepared to work and do the rehab that I need to prepare myself for next year. I’m ready to go.”
Ratugolea said the plan “for now is to take a bit of a break” — as much mental as physical after his traumatic weekend.
“I’ll stay away from the football club for a bit and just make sure this is right before I start doing any movement,” he said.
“But yeah, I think just get my mind right first before I start training again.”
On Instagram, Ratugolea thanked family, friends and fans for their support while he paid tribute to his partner Sorina with a picture of the pair in hospital.
“Happy birthday,” read his bittersweet message on Tuesday.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and continue to do.”
