Staker's knee faces biggest test

Brent Staker cools off during a hot training session in Brisbane. Picture: Jono Searle Source: The Courier-Mail

BRENT Staker stands in the goal square at the Brisbane Lions' Coorparoo training base looking a million dollars.

His knee is heavily bandaged, but he looks as fit as always. Ridiculously fit in fact.

Then he leads at the footy and you hold your breath.

Staker's athleticism is undoubted and his value to a team that has been undersized over the past two years is undisputed, but his dodgy knee's ability to withstand the rigorous of AFL is uncertain.

The 29-year-old's dedication to his rehabilitation has been faultless.

If they handed out games on professionalism, he would be in the side in Round 1.

He has been able to convince himself he is ready to go through hard work over summer, but only when he has played games will others breathe more easily.

"People say there are mental scars, but I don't think there is too much to worry about," Staker said.

"Pre-Christmas there were a couple of marking contests where I was thinking about it, I was a bit nervous and maybe I didn't go in that hard, but it just isn't entering my head now."

Staker underwent two reconstructions and a bone graft on his right knee over a horror two year period that followed an impressive debut season for Brisbane in 2010.

Round 1 in 2011 was a game famous for the horrific facial injury to skipper Jonathan Brown, but it also started the nightmare stretch for former West Coast star Staker when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

Staker chose to undergo the radical LARS procedure, which uses a synthetic ligament, and it appeared to have paid dividends when he was back in the side by Round 17.

But it wasn't long before Staker damaged his ACL once again and this time he opted for a conventional reconstruction this time around.

Again there was a setback, although this time it was immediate.

The surgeon found a hole in Staker's knee that had to be filled before the reconstruction could be completed.

That procedure set Staker back six more months, and killed off his chances of playing last year.

Now he is fit, but he must still force his way back into a side that has been bolstered by key position players Stefan Martin (Melbourne), Jordan Lisle (Hawthorn) and Billy Longer (2011 draft).

"I've got to earn that game," he said.

"It would be unfair to come in and be a walk-up start. You have to fit into the team structure you have to be able to get a kick.

"I feel my skills are pretty good for a bigger guy and I can run. I consider that to be a bit vital."
 

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