Last week we named the top ten players to have forged on through serious injuries to give memorable performances.
Considering there are a stack of brave warriors who take to the field each season, there was bound to be some players who were unlucky to miss the list.
To pay our respects to them, we decided to name some of the players who only just fell outside the top 10.
A BROKEN THUMB AND PLENTY OF ADMIRERS - DARREN MILLANE (1990)
For any Collingwood-loving person, Millane’s perseverance through a broken thumb is a famous story.
An adored player who exemplified everything the black and white army stood for, the no-frills backman would end the 1990 Grand Final win with the ball in his hands, tossing the Sherrin up with delight.
What makes this ridiculous is that Millane shouldn’t have been out there after breaking his thumb on the eve of the finals series.
Despite the tragedy that would occur only a year later, Millane etched himself into the Collingwood history books with an effort that bravely defined his stellar career.
MYSTERIOUS RIBS OF A CHAMPION - LUKE HODGE (2008)
This one probably missed out because it has since been debated whether the Hawthorn champion did break his ribs or just sustained rib damage in the 2008 prelim win over St Kilda.
Regardless of the prognosis, the tale of Hodge lining up in the Grand Final with a brace on - only to star in an upset victory and take home the first of two Norm Smith Medals - is awesome.
The four-time Premiership player is known for his toughness and shrewd ability to perform in big games, but to do so when clearly labouring with sore ribs is just remarkable.
A FAVOURITE SON WITH HIS PECTORAL DONE - ALAN DIDAK (2010)
Another tale of perseverance in a Magpies Premiership, the mercurial forward played the entire 2010 finals series with a torn pectoral muscle.
It had ripped completely off the bone, yet only some strapping and courtesy jabs were given to moderate the pain.
His wounded wing didn’t stop him from sealing the historic Premiership though.
Late in the third quarter Didak smothered a Mark Blake kick, before screwing the ball around on his non-preferred right foot to announce that it was party times for jubilant supporters. What an effort.
OBLIQUES, RIBS, MARKS - JEREMY MCGOVERN (2018)
Last but not least, the day that broke many Collingwood hearts also elevated champion defender Jeremy McGovern’s reputation as a tough player.
In the runaway prelim win over Melbourne the previous week, McGovern tore his obliques.
A question mark popped over his head all week, but the star player was cleared and given painkillers for the biggest day on the football calendar.
Then, with the match in the balance, he took a superb intercept mark that initiated a charge forward, finishing in the hands of Dom Sheed and that goal.
Need some spice to add to the story?
McGovern had already suffered torn obliques and internal bleeding, but he then cracked his ribs during the decider. None of this stopped him and his efforts that shrouded him in folklore status.
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