WHEN Phil Hubbard collapsed to the turf of Mulwala’s Lonsdale Reserve in 2017, he thought his footballing days were over.
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His Echuca United career flashed before his eyes — after all he had suffered the same fate on two previous occasions.
Either he was finished as a player, or on to yet another long road to recovery.
Scans later revealed Hubbard would need a third knee reconstruction, but the question remained whether he was willing to complete the hard yards once again to take flight with the Eagles.
In the end, the answer couldn’t have been simpler.
‘‘Not being able to finish on my terms would have been hard to swallow,’’ Hubbard explained.
‘‘I want to be able to decide when I’ve had enough. No one put any pressure on me to make a quick decision.
‘‘Having been mates with Guy (Campbell) for years, it made the decision pretty simple to come back.
‘‘In the end, I didn’t want injuries to define my time with the club.’’
Getting back on the field was never going to be an easy task — Hubbard was well aware of the demons he was going to face.
During a long-term recovery process people face many ups and downs, as he has discovered in the past.
And this time around was no different as bone bruising impacted upon his recovery time.
But it was also the mental challenges which left Hubbard feeling alone.
‘‘You could say I’m a veteran of rehab,” he joked.
‘‘Even though everything went pretty smoothly, the little hiccups can put you off.
‘‘Having to sit on the sidelines and watch your mates play the game you love is extremely difficult .’’
Although Hubbard wasn’t out on the field, he never felt like he was on the outer.
On every possible occasion, the Eagles players and community were checking in on Hubbard – hoping a return to the field wouldn’t be too far away.
“As soon as I walked into the club in 2013, they welcomed me with open arms and that certainly hasn’t changed,” Hubbard said.
“It’s all one club; there is no divide between anyone. There is nothing such as the better players and the mediocre players.
“Even when it came close to getting back, the boys never pushed me. They were always asking how my recovery was going.”
When Hubbard’s time to return did come – in round one this year against Deniliquin — he felt like he was playing his first game of senior footy all over again.
Pre-match there was a mixture of excitement and nerves — but question marks remained on how his knee would fare.
The day couldn’t have gone better as the Eagles secured a thrilling two-point victory with Hubbard named among the best players.
From there, Hubbard has only grown more confident in his body playing every game so far this season.
“It did take a few games to get confidence back,” he admitted.
“But there does remain a bit of a worry especially when I’m landing in marking contests.
“Just being able to be back out on the field with my mates is great.”
While Hubbard may be back on the field, some of his teammates have faced injury issues of their own this season.
And he is more than happy to provide a shoulder to lean on, whether he is offering advice on how to manage the injury or who to go and see.
“Due to the experiences I’ve had, you try and help guide your teammates through a tough period,” he said.
“You get a great feeling from being able to help your mates.”
The leadership Hubbard has displayed — despite his own personal challenges — has certainly not gone unnoticed after he was named co-captain alongside Farran Priest at the beginning of the season.
It is a position he holds in the highest regard.
“Being able to lead this club and group of players is a tremendous honour,” Hubbard explained.
“Your actions on and off the field are always going to speak and you want your teammates to follow.
“But at the same time, it doesn’t mean you sit any higher than anyone else.”
In their bid for success, the Eagles have vowed to make every player feel just as important as the next.
No matter who is being selected, everyone is just being asked to play to their capabilities.
“There is no doubt we are heading in the right direction,” Hubbard said.
“Everyone who walks through the doors of our club has a big part to play in our cause.
“Our team will do everything they can to at least break even or get one up on our man.
“There is a strong belief in each individual.”
Currently United sit on top of the Murray League ladder — and while they are taking it week by week, players do still continue to dream of winning a premiership.
Hubbard missed that opportunity in 2013 through injury and he is now more determined than ever to lift the trophy on the biggest day of the season.
“Despite being on the coaching staff in 2013, I didn’t feel fully part of it,” he said.
“Words couldn’t describe what it would mean.
“Winning a premiership with this group of guys would be extra special.”