Despite the narrow loss, Saturday’s match against North Melbourne marked a successful return to football for defender Marcus Adams.
After 12 months spent on the sidelines due to a series of injuries - first a season-ending foot injury in 2017 and then ligament damage to his ankle on the eve of round one - Adams’ presence was a welcome sight for the Bulldogs.
It was also an important personal milestone for the 24-year-old Western Australian.
“It was sort of like my first game all over again, but I sort of had that bit of confidence in that I’d done it before,” he told westernbulldogs.com.au.
“It was a bit different, I didn’t really know what to do before the game. I was just going through it all. It was a similar feeling to my first game all over again.”
Hearing the news your season is over is never easy but Adams’ experience was particularly hard.
“Obviously when I did my foot, I didn’t expect to rehab a hip and syndy (syndesmosis injury) in the meantime, but I did. Having a few injuries along the road, as sort of one journey, I guess - it was pretty tough, probably more mentally than physically really.
“You learn a lot about yourself, I reckon, through rehab. I think the rehab guys have a bit of a unique understanding of each other in the way that it can be pretty tough at times. It was hard but hopefully that's the last of it for a while.”
Support came from family and teammates who have walked the same path, including veteran Dale Morris.
“I saw a fair few (players) come and go. Especially guys that hadn’t been in rehab before who felt themselves getting down – it was sort of almost an opportunity to mentor them a little bit in what they were going through.
“Everyone handles it differently, especially blokes for the first time who don’t really know what to do going into a rehab program. It’s a pretty lonely, old existence and you sort of don’t really feel part of the team. Having those guys around (helped) and there was a few other long-termers in there as well.
“Once I did the ankle, Moz had been in it for a while there too. We ended up coming back in the same game (in the VFL). He’s sort of been there as a bit of a father figure for me since I’ve come over. Especially in the four walls of the club, he’s taken me under his wing.
“We haven’t really played together since 2016. Being out there for my first game with him in over a couple of years, that was pretty good.”
Marcus Adams in action against Werribee for Footscray earlier this season. (Photo: Liz Vagg)
Adams returned against Werribee in the VFL in May, playing limited game time in order to be eased in. He copped a corky the following week against Collingwood and missed the next week’s match before playing again in Footscray’s Round 11 win over Coburg.
“I didn’t expect to get a call up (to the AFL side). I was actually a bit shocked when Bevo told me after training and I almost wanted to give him a hug because it was almost like my whole life changed in an instant. It changed my whole outlook on everything.”
Two people thrilled to see the Dogs’ big man on the park were Adams’ parents, who made the trip from Perth to Melbourne for the match.
“I was pretty buoyed throughout the back end of last week and got mum and dad to come over, because obviously they’d had a pretty tough time dealing with me (through the injuries). I think they sort of worried about me as well from afar.
“Mum and dad have been good, they were the ones I’d probably vent to when I was feeling a bit down. It was really important having them there (on Saturday).
“It almost felt like a win on a personal level. It was just a good feeling walking off the field in a lot of ways, but at the same time it would have been nice to get the win too.”
The key-defender said he felt as though he worked into the game and was pleased with the way he settled in the contest. Against the Roos he was named amongst the Dogs’ best players, polling three AFLCA votes from 20 disposals, 12 marks and five inside-50s.
“I probably struggled to really get into games in a mental sort of capacity throughout the few games I played in the VFL.
“I just go out there and try and be as good a teammate as I possibly can be. I was pretty happy that I was able to talk and show a bit of physicality and hopefully make the guys around me walk a bit taller, that kind of thing.
“Whether or not I get a lot of the footy is sort of irrelevant. I’m not exactly Matt Suckling or Jackson Macrae. I could have 10 touches, or 20 or 30, it doesn’t really matter. As long as I play my role and help the guys around me, I’m pretty happy with that.”
Marcus Adams is hoping to put his run of injuries behind him. (Photo: AFL Media)
Adams said joining teammates Hayden Crozier and Jackson Trengove in the backline for the first time in their debut season at the Kennel added to the experience.
“Being part of the group again, I sort of felt like I slotted in pretty seamlessly with the guys and they were pretty happy with what I was able to do for them. That was probably the most enjoyable bit for mine.
“I thought a lot of the guys showed really good signs. We might not have the experience right now, but hopefully the mould is there to build with a young group. North Melbourne are a pretty good team and we probably outplayed them all in all.
“If we can keep on, at the very least, challenging teams and playing four good quarters, that will be good. We’ve probably floated in and out and played a good quarter or two here and there but have largely been pretty well beaten.
“To be able to get into a game, stay in a game and play how we want to play for four quarters – that’d be nice if we can do that on a more regular basis than what we have done.”
Friday night’s meeting with Geelong presents another opportunity for the side to prove themselves. The Dogs’ haven’t beaten the Cats since 2009.
“Geelong are a little bit similar to North in a lot of ways. The way they play is pretty physical. That’s probably where we’ve struggled with them in recent times. They’ve probably just bullied us a little bit.
“There’s vulnerabilities where hopefully we can expose them and kick a decent score and see how we go.”
