Port Adelaide defender Esava Ratugolea has revealed he will step away from the club and the AFL environment while he focuses on his recovery from a devastating season-ending knee injury. The 27-year-old suffered a ruptured patella tendon during Saturday night's loss to Collingwood and underwent successful surgery shortly after.
Injury Details and Initial Reaction
Ratugolea returned to Adelaide on Tuesday but remains unable to stand or walk, with lingering excruciating pain. The initial sensation was so severe that he initially thought he had suffered a different injury altogether.
“All I can remember is just going up for a high ball really, a contest, like any other mark really, and then I just remembered my leg giving way under me,” he told 7NEWS Adelaide. “At first I thought I’d broken my leg, but I checked my knee and (it was) sort of out of place and didn’t know where my kneecap was so (I) didn’t get off too good.”
Pain and Recovery Timeline
Ratugolea, who previously suffered a broken ankle in 2018 during his time with Geelong, described this injury as “definitely one of the most painful injuries I’ve ever had.” He added, “(The pain) lasted a lot longer too. The last couple of days have been pretty tough, pretty painful, but taking a lot of painkillers at the moment. Yeah, a bit of a long road ahead of us.”
With a 12-month recovery timeline, it remains uncertain how much football Ratugolea will play in 2027. However, he is under contract through 2028 and is determined to return.
Frustration and Determination
The injury came during one of his best games and an impressive run of form this year, making the setback particularly frustrating. “I’ve probably struggled a lot in my career with continuity and especially in my body,” Ratugolea said. “So it’s a bit frustrating when you get an injury like this, a big setback and you’ve got to restart again. But I’ve spent my time in rehab a bit so I know what it’s all about and I’m prepared to work and do the rehab that I need to prepare myself for next year. I’m ready to go.”
Mental Break and Support
Ratugolea plans to take a break from football to focus on his mental recovery. “I’ll stay away from the football club for a bit and just make sure this is right before I start doing any movement,” he said. “But yeah, I think just get my mind right first before I start training again.”
On Instagram, he thanked family, friends, and fans for their support, paying special tribute to his partner Sorina with a photo from the hospital. “Happy birthday,” he wrote on Tuesday. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and continue to do.”
