Injuries hampered what looked to be a promising AFL career for Tom Curran, but the former Roo was a welcome sight on the field in the VAFA on the weekend.
Back for his first competitive game in four years, Curran played for Collegians.
While things didn't go completely to plan, the 23-year-old was back doing what he loved.
“First centre clearance of the game we got a free kick and within 10 seconds I’d marked it on the lead and had a shot at goal and missed,’’ the former Roo told the Herald Sun.
“That kick out went out, we marked it and it got kicked back in, I flew for that mark, got my hands to it at the top of the pack and jarred my finger.
“I didn’t know I’d done anything, we kicked a goal and I went to high five my teammate, looked down at my hand and my pinky finger was sideways.”
After leaving the field, Curran drove to the Alfred Hospital for treatment before making a quick trip back to the ground.
“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, if anything was going to happen of course it would to me,’’ Curran said.
“Nothing was going to stop me from finishing the game off. I got on at the end of the third quarter, ran straight from the car park to the interchange and said ‘I’m right, get me on’ but then ran to the wrong end of the ground.”
Curran was able to play just nine VFL games during his time at Arden Street, with foot injuries cruelling his career.
“I was 20 when I called it quits and it’s tough to make that call and think about the rest of your life when you’re so engrossed in playing footy.
“I didn’t get a chance to prove myself at that level so it was frustrating. I’d spent 90 weeks of those three years at North on crutches so it’d been a pretty rough time.
“In a way it was a relief but certainly the main emotion was sadness.”
Now working in the golf industry, the support from Curran’s family has been invaluable.
“Dad’s loving it, he takes a back seat to it all and it’s up to me judging how my foot is and if I’m right to play,’’ Curran said.
“They’re all right behind me and always have been.”
