Geelong Advertiser |
OCEAN Grove goal kicker Travis Gavin may have just shot his BFL finals chances in the foot.
Gavin is only a “50-50 chance” of returning in Saturday’s preliminary final against Torquay after a freak workplace accident last Tuesday.
The 26-year-old is off work and on crutches after accidentally firing a nail into his right foot, resulting in surgery and an awkward phone call to Grubbers coach Shane Jack.
The nail somehow avoided making contact with any bones but was lodged above the big toe and underneath the little toes.
An operation was needed to remove the stray nail, clean up the debris and check for any tendon damage.
Gavin has a follow-up appointment today where he hopes to have some stitches removed and be given the all clear to start putting weight on the foot.
“I’ll know more (today) but I’m still leaning towards not playing, it’s still 50-50 I think,” Gavin said yesterday.
“As soon as I can walk on it, I’ll be right to play.
“I was doing some work on a frame and I took a step back and shot my toes together.”
Gavin said people did not believe what he had done until he showed them a picture of his X-ray.
Then came the phone call to Jack.
“It was bizarre to ring up and say ‘I’ve shot my foot’, Shane thought I was joking,” he said. “Everyone said I was joking at the start, but I just sent the pic through and they still couldn’t believe it.”
Gavin remains off work but said once he can return to the field he will return to work.
He was shattered to watch Saturday’s semi-final hiding against Geelong Amateur from the sidelines and will do everything he can to get back.
The Grubbers hope hardman Max Rooke will return to take on the Tigers after being a late withdrawal last Saturday.