Third knee reconstruction a horror blow for Parry

ONE of South Fremantle’s emerging leaders has received some devastating news ahead of the 2016 WAFL season with Jarrod Parry rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at training this week meaning he will require a third reconstruction.

It’s a terrible blow to Parry who has continued to display tremendous ability to perform as a leader and in his own right throughout his 34 game career with South Fremantle since making his debut in 2010.

Throughout 2015, despite an injury hiccup midway through he had a relatively smooth run ending up playing 14 of the 20 matches and all indications were that he was gearing up for a strong 2016 campaign coming off what was likely the best pre-season campaign of his career.

The 24-year-old was in South Fremantle’s leadership group in 2015 and there’s no question he was being groomed as a future captain of the Bulldogs.

Not only has he proven to play strong, consistent and tough football either as a midfielder, wingman or with roles across half-forward or half-back, but he can do defensive jobs, be an outright attacking player or as he showed during 2015 step up to man some taller opposition players when required.

Parry came through South Fremantle’s development programs and burst on to the scene to make his league debut in Round 16, 2010 and he had an immediate impact with 18 possessions and four tackles.

His tenacity was further on show with 12 tackles in Round 21 that season. But then the injury bug hit and he required his first full knee reconstruction after going down on the eve of the 2011 season.

He returned for seven reserves matches in the first half of 2012 but then did the ACL in his right knee for a second time.

Parry made it back to play a key role in the 2013 reserves premiership and then has got through relatively unscathed physically the last two years to play some consistent football.

However, now his 2016 is over before it began after rupturing the ACL in his left knee at training on Monday evening. Parry has elected for a traditional knee reconstruction and is now setting his sights on being ready for the start of 2017 along with Cory Dell’Olio for the Bulldogs.