Richmond Media will sit down with each of the five Tigers recovering from an ACL rupture, during their trip to Samoa, to hear how they are travelling.

Richmond Media: Judson, how are you travelling?

Judson Clarke: Good, really good. I am just excited, (because of our) young group. I think that (excitement) is going to be a big aspect of this year and I am just keen to see what we can do.

We are very young, very fresh and I think that is very exciting, because the boys are all so keen and very eager to play and to get some wins.

Right now, I am excited too for this trip. So yeah, I am going really well.

You were on a plane setting off on a different trip not long ago too, how was that?

Yeah, in the off-season I went to America. That was very fun. I was there for nearly a month, just with a couple of mates (from) outside footy.

That was good to I guess get out and see the world and experience a different part of the world. I had a lot of fun over there and it was a very good time.

RM: You are someone that works really hard with your rehab, so how important was it to get away and freshen up?

Yeah, I realised that I really needed it.

I had not gone away at the end of a year for the last for the last couple of years. So going to America was really good to just get away and have a break.

I was still training while I was over there, but it was, more of a holiday. We were sightseeing and stuff like that.

Going now (to Samoa for five-days), I think it's similar. I have been training pretty hard and I kind of feel like I am needing another break. Like just a little break, to give my knee some rest (before ramping back up).

So yeah, it is good timing.

RM: Your 2023 ended with injury as well (fractured scapula). Was it because of the rehab for that that you did not get away that off-season?

Yeah, I think so. Not that I really had any set intentions to go away, but yeah, I guess the scapula did add to that, because I just wanted to rehab that as best I could and try and get back out on the park for last year.

RM: You are at a point of your rehab now where you can start looking at playing football really soon. What position might we see you play this year?

I am currently with the midfield group training as a winger. So, I am looking to play wing (but) will still be keeping options open to (play) half forward and half back as well.

So, I am learning all roles, and I guess want to be able to play wherever need be.

RM: You seem to be well suited to the wing?

Yeah, I enjoy the wing, it is good fun. I don't mind running and as a wing you have got to run a fair bit. So, I have been enjoying hanging out with the midfielders.

I have been learning a lot of centre bounce stuff as well, which has been different. It is new for me, but it is good and I feel like it is just another thing to add to my tool kit.

RM: What coach have you been working most closely with?

Cara (Blake Caracella), he is my line coach and then recently I have been working heaps with Jack Ziebell as well.

He has been helping me with my rehab and returning (to full training). I guess bridging the gap between rehab and into training.

RM: How far away are you from that next stage, where your focus becomes trying to get into your best playing form, instead of that focus on returning to full fitness?

Pretty close I would say. I have started joining back in some drills. I am not full training yet and it is not contact yet, but I am hoping that is coming around the corner, maybe at the end of February and then hopefully I can get into match play as soon as I can after that.

So, it is really exciting that it is not long now. It has just been so long, and it really kills you not being able to play footy for so long, because that is all we really want to do is play.

I am pretty pumped, and I have been having a blast joining back in drills and I feel like I have been training pretty good.

RM: Has that frustration of not being able to play been different to your last ACL? I believe it was in 2020, so you did not actually miss many games?

Yeah, very different. My first ACL was back in school. I felt like I had more rest during the rehab process because of the fact I had 18 months off footy because of COVID.

I was fortunate enough to not miss any games in the end and it did not hurt my draft chances.

With this one, I have been working on it every single day since surgery and it has been two very different experiences, with the two rehabs.

There has been a whole different range of things and yeah, I think no two ACL rehabs are ever going to be exactly the same.

RM: On that point… the way it has unfortunately worked out is that there are five of you who have done your knee. What kind of bond have you guys made across the last few months?

Yeah huge.

It has actually been massive just to know that I am not alone. Rehab can be a pretty daunting and lonely place at times, so to have four other great mates, kind of being there with me, it helps a lot, and we have been able to make it more fun than what it probably is.

(We have been) creating little games with each other, making it a bit competitive. It has been awesome to have them for me, and I also hope that I have been there for the other boys as well.

RM: We are at Brisbane Airport now, but we are obviously about to go to Samoa. What do you know about Samoa, and what are you looking forward to?

I know that it's beautiful. Beautiful scenery, very hot, very humid and we are probably going to be sweating a lot.

I am super excited because it is my first time going, but it's also Mykelti’s first time going and it's like his homeland, so I can’t wait to I guess share the culture of his homeland and see what they do.

To see Mykelti in that environment and to learn and experience a whole bunch of different things that I wouldn't back here in Australia it is exciting.