Q: Yesterday must have been a tough day?
""The day before yesterday I had scans and the club doctor Ian Reynolds said it looks like it might be a bit more serious. I went and saw Julian Feller yesterday morning. He said you don't have to go through with the surgery but I don't feel you would ever be able to run the same if we don't do it. So I sort of had no option. I hope to play for another four or five years so I had to look long term.
""Most guys who have played a long career had had a hamstring injury and no one had been through the pain and the symptoms I was going through. I actually did think it was something more serious. But never do you think that a hamstring is going to be a season-ending injury.
""I have heard of people saying it felt like they had been shot and that is how I felt. It also sent a shock through my whole body and I was a bit nauseous. I later found out there is a sciatic nerve near by and that got hit also. That is something they have to be careful of in the operation because it is a nerve you can't affect.""
Q: What went though your mind when you realised it was season-ending?
""It was shock. Just when you feel like things were starting to happen for you -- I had a year of injury last year -- so you sort of feel for yourself. But then, I also think of Rama and what he is going through. It is a bit of shock I think.
""It is hard because I have never even had hamstring tightness or soreness so it sort of came out of the blue. I will have the surgery tomorrow morning and obviously it is a long road -- probably four to six months -- to work with it, and I don't know what to expect. I have never had an injury where it has been a season-ending injury over 12 years of footy so it is hard to take. Especially when I put so much in place for the year, for the team, being the first year as captain of the club.
""Julian Feller said it is something you would see in a water skiing accident; such is the velocity they are going at. He has never seen it before in a footballer. I hope it was because I was running so fast.
Q: What did you say to the boys?
""I just wanted them to see me. I won't be able to be there on Anzac Day so I wanted to say I am fine, I will have the surgery and I will be back. There has been a lot of things reported that have over-dramatised things a little about whether I am finished, whether my career is over. If all things go to plan I am hoping to try to see whether I can get back at the end of the season. I just wanted to tell the boys that hopefully, you will perform and do your bit and I am hanging my hat on maybe trying to play a finals game.""
Q: Any risk of long-term complications.
""There would have been if we didn't have surgery but it will be as good as new. Nathan Buckley and Stephen Silvagni have given me a fair bit of hope. They both recovered really well after their surgery.
Q: Is it harder to cop having just been named captain?
Number one, it is just missing playing the game you love. It is a year out of my career that I am never going to get back. On the captaincy, I think that is something that has been played up a little bit. The guy will toss the coin and then it is up to the 10 players in the senior group to win the game for us.
""Obviously there is no doubt he (James) is the best captain and most experienced. But they could have said that about me and he could have kept it for this year. It has done amazing things for me and my leadership and my confidence. I feel James is going to be the captain and the leader either way, but does it give someone else the chance to gain some experience at the same time? That is a decision for Sheeds and the senior coaches.
""I couldn't pick it at the moment. I saw Justin Koschitzke get it out of the blue last year and he played the four games of his life. Maybe that responsibility did it for him. What would it do for David Hille's career? Could it take him to where we want him to get to? At the same time, I don't want to take anything from the Johnsons, who have given us so much service over their careers.
Q: What will the rehabilitation entail?
""I will be on crutches for three weeks and then you can't run for 10. Then it is just how the muscle recovers from the operation. It is just something that can't be rushed. That is why we are saying it is season-ending.""
