Jason Winderlich has had his fair share of back problems in the past couple of seasons but his troubles were put into perspective when he met with 17-year-old Essendon member Alex Lacota. Alex recently underwent almost five hours surgery to correct a major back problem – he is still enduring significant pain there but Winderlich managed to bring a smile to the young man’s face.

The surgery was performed at the Epworth Hospital and that was where Jason met Alex, sitting with him for an hour talking all things footy. With Winderlich his favourite player, Alex was thrilled with the surprise visit. For Winderlich, hospital visits such as this are as therapeutic for him as the patient.

“You can get caught up in young own problems sometimes and feeling sorry for yourself. Visiting people like Alex puts things back in perspective – it gets you out of your own little world,” Winderlich said. “That is a really significant operation he had but he is in good spirits and I am sure he will back watching the Bombers in no time.”