Western Bulldogs vice-captain Adam Treloar, 32, finally got to taste AFL action again on Saturday after a long-awaited return. His return arrives on the heels of what turned into a difficult period filled with repeated injury mishaps. Treloar has faced significant obstacles. Since December of last year, he’s had to recover from three different calf injuries, which confined him to recovery for four months.
In Treloar’s first game back against Port Adelaide, he showed everyone just how good he is. He tallied 27 disposals and kicked a goal to lift his side to victory. The experience was emotional for Treloar, who admitted that he feared his career might be over due to the recurring injuries.
“It’s certainly been probably the hardest phase of my footy career… because we’ve been, you know, we don’t know why I keep hurting myself,” Treloar stated. This candid admission serves as an important reminder of the mental and physical toll that injuries can take on an athlete.
Treloar’s journey through recovery was not only about regaining physical fitness but about rebuilding his confidence in playing the game he loves. “To really get to the game on the weekend and run out there and play, I was so, so proud,” he said. Yet the match still stands as one of his career’s proudest moments—his greatness born from his ability to overcome adversity.
Treloar takes stock of his professional development. He recounts that throughout his professional career, he has never not been under contract. As a result, today, he’s in the unusual situation of being an unrestricted free agent. “It’s a weird one, I haven’t been out of contract since I started,” Treloar acknowledged. But even with all of this unknown, he’s hopeful about what the next steps are in his career within the sport. “I certainly believe in myself. As long as my mind is willing, I’ve got no doubt I can play next year and beyond that,” he expressed.
Beyond the playing field, Treloar is striving to make a larger impact. He spends time coaching under-17s at Noble Park, the club where he first learned to love the game. “I just really want to have a positive impact in their life and help fast track their footy but I want them to, I guess, finish this season and just love the game,” he said of his coaching aspirations.
As a player, Treloar has continued his journey across three clubs, proving himself as one of the most dynamic and versatile athletes in the game. As he continues to navigate the complexities of professional football, his recent return serves as a reminder of the challenges athletes often face and the determination required to overcome them.
