Injury rules Grey out of grand final clash
Injury rules Grey out of grand final class Daily Liberal, September 3,2015ON grand final day the majority of people in the crowd are wishing they were out on the field, helping their side achieve the ultimate honour of premiership glory.
That will be the case during the Group 11 grand finals at Caltex Park on Sunday but there will be one person who wishes he was out there more than most.
CYMS winger John Grey has not played since June 14 at Narromine when he suffered a knee injury and he will be on the sidelines again come Sunday when the Fishies take on Parkes in the first grade decider.
While the injury seemed innocuous enough at first, two bouts of surgery to remove floating cartilage, the most recent of which was last Wednesday, ruled out any chance of making a return in 2015.
"It was a nothing injury and we didn't think much of it at all but it did a fair bit of damage and I've had to have surgery twice," he said.
"Initially we discussed coming back for the major semi and the final if we were to make it and that's how it was shaping.
"But I had a bit of follow-up pain so had the second surgery and removed some more cartilage that was left behind but now I've got the opportunity to not rush back."
The chance to rest during the off-season and build the strength back up could be a blessing for Grey, rather than rushing the play and risking further damage, but that does not make it any easier sitting on the sidelines.
The Western Rams winger has been at nearly all matches and training sessions since the injury, still having an impact on a Fishies side.
Much was made of his dramatic mid-season transfer from cross-town rivals Macquarie in 2014 and while he was able to help the Fishies claim the title last season, he was desperate to help them achieve the rare honour of back-to-back titles.
A team has not won the first grade premiership twice in a row since CYMS won four consecutive titles from 2001-04 and Grey says that is a big goal for the club.
"Considering I came halfway through last year and sort of struggled with a few injuries but I was really happy in the 2014 final to help provide something to get the win but going back-to-back hasn't been done in 11 years so that's definitely up there on the club's list of priorities and it would be an unbelievable achievement," he said.
In terms of the match itself, Grey has total belief in his side but knows nothing can be taken for granted against a Spacemen side which has been just as impressive as the Fishies in 2015.
"It's going to be really difficult and if the boys are expecting anything but a bloody tough contest then they've got the wrong mindset," he said.
"Grand finals come down to attitude, you can't rest on your laurels or what you've done during the season because it doesn't matter.
"It comes down to who shows up and who is willing to do those little one-percenters and put in the extra effort for the full 80 minutes."