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Sheldon shines in Suncoast return
By Simon White
10:06 AM Wed 02 July, 2008
AMIDST the disappointment of Sunday's loss to Melbourne there was at least one bright spot for the Brisbane Lions – the continued successful comeback from injury of young midfielder Sam Sheldon.
The 19-year-old entered 2008 hoping to push for a spot in the Lions’ senior side, after having his 2007 debut season at the Gabba ended by a broken leg.
However, the injury curse struck again – this time in the shape of osteitis pubis – and it wasn’t until a fortnight ago that Sheldon resumed for the Suncoast Lions against Zillmere in the AFLQ.
He played limited minutes on that occasion but spent increased time on the field on Saturday against Broadbeach and was named among the Lions’ best.
"It was great to get back to playing again because being out injured so much was really frustrating," Sheldon told lions.com.au.
"To be honest, it was killing me. I’m not the kind of bloke who likes sitting and doing nothing for too long and I get pretty fidgety.
"Being stuck around the house and not even able to do sit-ups or anything like that was really hard to take."
Sheldon first began to feel the onset of osteitis pubis after a February training session and, despite a modified training regime and intensive physiotherapy, the debilitating condition worsened.
Along with fellow midfielder Matt Moody, Sheldon was booked in for a visit to Adelaide osteitis pubis “guru” Steve Saunders – the result being that both players have been able to get back on the field when their seasons might otherwise have been written off.
The only true cure for osteitis pubis is rest, but with daily pilates sessions (to build core strength), physio and acupuncture, Sheldon has been able to manage the ailment.
"Going through all this has meant I have become pretty good at knowing my own body and what it’s capable of," he said.
"In my case it’s just a matter of my muscles through my core not being strong enough to handle the workload I was taking on.
"There isn’t anything actually wrong with my pelvis. But it was getting overworked and that was putting my hips out of line and affecting the pubic synthesis."
With two games for 2008 now under his belt, Sheldon is cautiously optimistic about working towards the goal with which he started the season – an AFL debut.
"For now, all I’m looking at is staying injury free and playing some good footy (for the Suncoast Lions)," Sheldon said.
"The boys have been going pretty well in the seniors and there are a lot of quality players there, so I think it’s going to be pretty hard to get a game.
"But if it did get to later in the season and I was flying in the twos and got the chance, of course I’d be rapt."
The 19-year-old also remains rapt with the decision to make the Gabba his footballing home, turning down the potential opportunity to be a father-son selection at Carlton, where his father Ken played 132 games.
The younger Sheldon passed up on another year of junior eligibility and the chance to join the Blues, instead entering the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, where he was taken by the Lions with the No.70 pick.
"The old man has never been someone who tried to push or pull me in one direction and that was definitely the case when I got drafted,” he said.
"I always go to him for advice and when I got taken by the Lions he said it was a great opportunity and was like; ‘get going, pack your bags, get up there.’
"Obviously Carlton has been a big part of my life and my family’s life but it’s about taking your chances where they come up.
"That’s what I’m doing and I’m really happy to be doing it here."
Hammo, you're a twit. We've already got 3 blokes with 6 games or less experience in the team.Young gun holstered in Lions quest to succeed
Article from:
Andrew Hamilton
August 28, 2008 12:00am
BRISBANE has decided that finishing the season with a win takes priority over using the last chance to look at some youngsters in senior company.
The Lions are set to stick with mature-bodied senior campaigners for Saturday's clash with the Swans, which could mean young gun Sam Sheldon's keenly anticipated debut will be on hold until next season.
Brisbane has been desperate to see Sheldon in senior action but the need to placate disappointed fans with a final-round win, combined with the stronger bodies of Sydney's midfield, looks to have cost him his last chance of the season to show his wares on the big stage.
So he back at training now and has got over his problem that he had what was it.He had glandular fever.So he could play nab-cup?
Photo courtesy of the Herald Sun.
