Colbert Sets His Sights On Return
The Age
Thursday June 26, 2003
Kangaroos defender Leigh Colbert hopes to return to football by the end of the season after remarkable improvement in his pancreas condition in the past fortnight.
With the Roos sixth on the ladder and a strong chance of playing in the finals, Colbert could return from the serious injury that cut his season short.
Colbert has been in Bendigo recuperating since the injury, which occurred in the Roos' round-11 clash against Richmond. He was taken to hospital after an accidental collision with teammate David King left him vomiting uncontrollably for 10 minutes.
Colbert had emergency surgery on the Saturday evening after the game and then stayed in hospital for nine days after the operation.
``Two weeks ago I would have said (the season) was over," he said. ``Just for the first five or six days, I was pretty crook in hospital. I didn't eat for eight days.
``There is a window of opportunity, but I will just have to see and speak to the doctors and surgeons. I will just have to wait and see how I progress."
Colbert will return to Melbourne today for more scans and a better idea of what his future will hold.
``The scans will tell me a little bit more about how everything is operating down there and whether the pancreas is working to optimal ability. I don't think there is any long-term problems as far as playing footy again," he said.
``I think, initially, I will take it easy and then I can step up the training. Initially, I will be quite sore, as I am now."
He does not expect to start running for another month but is likely to start swimming and bike riding within the next fortnight.
Colbert has regained two of the 11 kilograms he lost in the aftermath of the injury.
Tigers look to get spring back SPORT 12
© 2003 The Age