He was even confident of coming back on soon after, despite hobbling from the field assisted by trainers. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
“I remember just falling over and getting rid of the handpass and then trying to get up and I couldn’t feel my foot, so that was probably the first thing I thought was a bit strange,” he told NMFC.com.au.
“Once I got off they (the doctors) said ‘you’re done for the day’, I still didn’t realise I’d done my achilles. I thought it was probably just a sore calf or sore soleus (muscle).
“I said to them give me a minute or two and I’ll be right to go back on, but obviously it was a bit more substantial damage than that.”
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The reality was confronting; he faces four months without running and the likelihood of missing a large chunk of pre-season. But the captain admits the magnitude of the injury still hasn’t quite set in.
“I feel alright. It’s disappointing to miss the last couple of rounds, and hopefully the boys can go on and play finals, but I’m glad I got most of the season out.”
“I’ve been really fortunate to have played pretty much the last five years without missing a game and having any sort of serious injuries. I suppose from that point of view I can’t complain.”
Team-mates and fans alike have rallied around Swallow in his recovery, and even an opposition player is hoping to provide support.
Hawthorn’s Jarryd Roughead suffered an achilles injury in mid-2011, but was back for the start of the following season.
“Before I even finished the game he’d already texted me and asked to catch up for a chat. In the brief conversations I’ve had with him, he’s been really positive, and he seems to be back and playing some of the best football of his career," Swallow added.
“From that point of view I’m really looking forward to getting back out there, and confident I can do what he’s done.”
While a frustrating few months awaits, the number 9 understands the need to be patient.
“It’s a fine line. You want to get back as quick as you can, but you also want to make sure you don’t do it again. It’s about trying to find that balance between getting back quickly, but also making sure I’m safe and the leg is going to pull up fine and be right to go.
“We’ve got some great people around us, like Steve Saunders (North’s director of medical services), Simon Anning and the other physios and doctors. We’ve got some good people for support.
“I’m sure I’ll be back out there. I’m sure rehab will get boring at stages, but it’s something you’ve got to do to get back. I’m 26. I want to be playing for a few more years, so I’ve got to make sure I get it right.”
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