“One step at a time” may be a good mantra to go by coming off a significant setback, but it’s one Jack Hayes is the first to admit wears thin after a while.

Ask anyone who’s ruptured their ACL and they’ll tell you it’s the one of the most tedious, gruelling and frustrating recoveries an athlete can be forced to endure. First comes the firecracker-like, shooting pain when the ligament first goes, then seconds later, nothing, as the realisation of a year on the sidelines sets in.

That initial pain is almost secondary to the toll that comes with the subsequent and painstakingly gradual rebuild. At first, it feels surprisingly fast before coming to an absolute grind as the monotony takes over. All you can do is put one foot in front of the other. Hayes has lived and breathed that since last April.

So when the unexpected hits in the form of two substantial setbacks, the frustration is more than understandable, especially a few weeks out from the season proper, of which he almost certainly would have been a big feature in.

A break in the navicular bone in his right foot only a few weeks out from competitive pre-season games and a severe left hamstring strain to boot at the tail-end of the previous injury recovery time ballooned the 12-month recovery window out to nearly 18, and at one point, even threatened to put a line through the entirety of 2023.

As challenging and demanding as it’s been however, Hayes has stuck to his guns of taking it one step at a time, to the point where a long-awaited return for the Saints will finally eventuate on Saturday against Brisbane.

“It was super frustrating coming off a knee for starters. You never want to get injured and being out for a year isn’t ideal,” Hayes told saints.com.au.

“I tried to move on pretty quick. You know as soon as you do it there’s not really any solution or quick fix, you know you’re going to be out for at least 12 weeks.

“I focussed really hard on getting myself right, doing everything I possibly could to make sure when that 12 weeks was done I’d be ready to play. Obviously you’re pretty frustrated at the time, but you just get back into making sure when you do come back, you’re ready to go.

Staying positive may sound easy in theory. In practice, it’s far harder to upkeep.

Hayes knew he was in for the grind, but the six month add-on was far from the plan. The manner of which both injuries occurred was just salt in an already aggravated wound, and similar to his season-ending ACL rupture, were as innocuous as they come.

A change in direction during a routine tackling drill was all it took for the foot - potentially under duress previously with an undetected stress fracture - to give way. Walking off and in pain, much like when he hobbled off Manuka Oval with his knee jangling around loosely, he knew something was amiss.

Almost three months later with an eye to return via the VFL just before the bye, the hamstring went during the second last run-through of a Saturday morning rehab session at RSEA Park.

Hayes’ time in the rehab group has been extended significantly as a result, but alongside several other of his teammates including the similarly setback-affected Nick Coffield (knee, calf), Daniel McKenzie (calf) and Max King (shoulder, hamstring) among others, the frustrating stint has been easier to bear.

“It’s always good to have people in there, you can talk a bit of shit and all that and make the best out of a bad situation, but you’re all there for the same reason: you’re trying to get better and play footy,” Hayes said.

“It’s not the place you want to be, but if you’ve got a good group of people there it makes it a lot more enjoyable and time seems to travel a lot faster.”

After taking small but incremental steps forward over the past few months, pulling on Sandringham’s yellow, black and blue for the first time last month was the first big stride in a long time.

Had he played a week earlier, Hayes would have gone up against his brother, Nick, who plays for Werribee - “it would have worked out better for the parents to come down and watch!” he says - but rest assured they’ll be packing the stands when he pulls on the Saints colours once again.

Few can forget Hayes’ inexplicably electric debut in Round 1 of last year, booting three goals and piecing together one immense, tide-turning quarter (and eventual Brownlow vote performance) which had the Hayes clan and his friends in raptures in the stands.

It’s a taste Hayes can’t wait to experience and savour yet again.

“Your mind does drift back to games you have played. I miss it. Round 1 is a special one for me, I got a bit of the footy, kicked some goals, got pretty lucky with a Brownlow vote!” he said with a chuckle.

“It’s just about taking it day by day now. I’ve been out for a long time so I’m making sure every day I’m getting better, and my body is holding up as a result.

“As bad as it’s been, honestly, I was probably lucky coming off an ACL. There’s probably nothing worse you can do compared to a year-long injury.

“Those 12 weeks feel like a long time (after the foot injury), but in the grand scheme of things it’s not a year.

“Hopefully the day comes sooner rather than later.”


One man goes down, as Ross Lyon says, the next man comes up. And at long last, 491 days since his last senior appearance, it’s Jack Hayes’ turn to stand up.