Premiership defender Tom Cole is attacking his rehab with a goal in mind after being sidelined for an extended period due to an ankle cartilage injury.
The gritty backman is currently on the inactive list, but is eyeing a return to football in the latter half of the year if all goes well.
Recovering from similar injuries to top draftee Cambell Chesser and Grand Final hero Dom Sheed, Cole said the group have made rehab a “lot easier”.
““I’m at a point now where I’m attacking my rehab pretty hard, so got to a point now where I’m starting to do a bit more in and around the club,” Cole said.
“If I can get back and play then that’d be good, but if not, we’ll be ready for pre-season next year.
“It’s kind of how my body reacts, with my ankle, with the nature of the injury and the length of it.
“We had a fair crew who were in the trenches every day, up in the cardio room doing weights together, so that kind of made it easier, to be honest.
“I’m good mates with Dom Sheed and he hurt his ankle at the same time, Cambell Chesser’s got a similar injury to me, so doing it together makes it a lot easier.
“It’s had its challenges, but at the same time there’s always positives to come out of things like that.”
The tough defender has today announced a three-year contract extension with West Coast and is enthusiastic in his approach to the coming seasons.
The re-signing will see Cole an Eagle for at least a decade, with the no-fuss defender hoping to help lead the club to future success.
“It was a pretty easy decision for me in the end, the club came to me with the contract offer and it was pretty straightforward from there,” Cole said.
“Hopefully in the next few years I can step up into more of a leadership role, and help this club gets some more success.
“I’ve been here for seven years now, my fianceé’s been here for six years.
“It’s pretty special to think I would’ve played 10 years of AFL footy, when I first got drafted. They drafted me when I was 18 years old.
“I wouldn’t have thought that, I was a second-round pick, I had no expectations when I first got drafted.
“So being able to be tied to this club for 10 years – and I’ve already won a premiership – I feel is pretty special.
“To add another three is just the cherry on top.”
Currently playing an off-field role, Cole has made himself available as a “sounding board,” and is relishing the opportunity to assist in any way, including advising exciting youngster Jamaine Jones who is playing a new role in the backline.
“It’s been a pretty tough year so far, with the injuries, COVID and at the end of the day I’m a footy player and that’s what I get paid to do,” Cole said.
“Not being able to play is obviously frustrating and it’s times like that. You want to be out there with your mates trying to help them in any way you can.
“So, I’m just trying to be positive and be a sounding board for anyone who wants a chat.
“Jamaine Jones, is playing a new role as a backman, I’m trying to help him where I can.
“It’s been good, with all the injuries we’ve had, that creates opportunities for younger players.
“It’s a great experience for a lot of them, and a lot of them are playing in different roles, so getting a broader aspect about a game plan, and playing different roles is always going to help in the long run.
“It’s been good to see glimpses of it. Just trying to bring a positive vibe to the club where I can.”
