Winderlich and Dempsey both opted for conventional knee reconstructive surgery as opposed to the radical LARS treatment and have now commenced rehabilitation and recovery regimes back at the Club.
“It’s a month now since I’ve had the operation so myself and Courtenay have begun doing leg presses and other leg exercises that will hopefully speed up the process more,” he said.
Winderlich went down at the 18-minute mark of the first quarter during the Bombers’ Round 4 clash against Carlton and remarkably, Dempsey followed less than 10 minutes later.
“When I was off the stretcher in the rooms, within a couple of minutes another doctor came down and said they needed more physio's to come back to the bench because Courtenay had done his knee as well.”
“For the first five minutes I was sitting there feeling pretty sore and sorry and then straight away when I heard Courtney had done his too, I just hoped he was okay. The circumstance was quite amazing actually.”
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Winderlich said despite the unfortunate season-ending injuries, he and Dempsey had been working together in their rehabilitation programs and were supporting each other with their longer-term recoveries.
“We’ve been going to the gym together and we’ve both started doing more in the gym now so we’re definitely there to help each other out and push each other along,” he said.
“We’re very similar running type players so once we get back to doing intense running exercises it will be good to have someone who has a similar capacity. I’m looking forward to those challenges.”
“We’ll be best mates after all the rehab we will be doing together, no doubt,” Winderlich said.
During his time in rehabilitation, Winderlich said he was enjoying taking on a mentor role to the younger forward line players.
“I’ve been going to most of the forward meetings with Brendan McCartney and the players. We’ve got such a young forward line at the moment and I am enjoying talking to the guys to help them out because that’s the role I was playing in at the start of the year.”
Winderlich added he remained focused on a successful recovery and was already looking toward the upcoming 2012 season.
“I’m already looking forward to Round 1 of the 2012 NAB Cup so I can get in a few good hit outs in time, before the 2012 season begins.”
“I’m still only 26 and I expect to play for the next four or five years and I expect that we [the team] will continually improve over the next few years so when I come back I want to make sure I am a part of that.”
Click here to purchase your 3-at-the-G membership today.
Winderlich said despite the unfortunate season-ending injuries, he and Dempsey had been working together in their rehabilitation programs and were supporting each other with their longer-term recoveries.
“We’ve been going to the gym together and we’ve both started doing more in the gym now so we’re definitely there to help each other out and push each other along,” he said.
“We’re very similar running type players so once we get back to doing intense running exercises it will be good to have someone who has a similar capacity. I’m looking forward to those challenges.”
“We’ll be best mates after all the rehab we will be doing together, no doubt,” Winderlich said.
During his time in rehabilitation, Winderlich said he was enjoying taking on a mentor role to the younger forward line players.
“I’ve been going to most of the forward meetings with Brendan McCartney and the players. We’ve got such a young forward line at the moment and I am enjoying talking to the guys to help them out because that’s the role I was playing in at the start of the year.”
Winderlich added he remained focused on a successful recovery and was already looking toward the upcoming 2012 season.
“I’m already looking forward to Round 1 of the 2012 NAB Cup so I can get in a few good hit outs in time, before the 2012 season begins.”
“I’m still only 26 and I expect to play for the next four or five years and I expect that we [the team] will continually improve over the next few years so when I come back I want to make sure I am a part of that.”
