COLIN Harwood is vowing to overcome a season-ending leg break to help solidify Port Fairy's back half in 2022.
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The 25-year-old was rushed to hospital on Saturday after a Koroit opponent landed on his lower leg in a marking contest.
The result? A broken fibula, a dislocated tibia and ankle ligament damage. Harwood went under the knife on Sunday and will spend the next six weeks in plaster before graduating to a moonboot for up to eight weeks.
Harwood told The Standard he initially thought the injury was related to his Achilles tendon.
By the time we'd arrived at the hospital, it'd blown up like a balloon.
- Colin Harwood
"I heard a crack. I was rolling around in agony and when our trainer helped me off the ground, we tried to ice it but she said 'we'd better take you to the hospital'," he said.
"By the time we'd arrived at the hospital, it'd blown up like a balloon.
"I didn't get an ambulance as I wasn't in that much pain when I came off but I probably should've (given the severity of the injury). I went straight in and had an x-ray and they knocked me out, put it back into place and I went in for surgery the next day."
Harwood thanked Port Fairy supporters for their well-wishes.
He said he'd remain involved at Gardens Oval in a non-playing capacity.
"(Coach) Winis (Imbi) gave me a call and he was excellent with it. He said I can have a bit of a back line role and help them out a bit," Harwood said.
"Matt Sully has a similar role this season. Hopefully me and him can find a few things to pass on.
"I'll still be around the club even though I won't be playing."
The Sun Pharma employee said he'd never previously suffered an injury.
"I've been dropped before for lack of form but I've never been injured so I haven't watched too much senior footy from the sidelines."
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