Footy can be a cruel game, and Ed Vickers-Willis knows only too well just how cruel. No stranger to the rehabilitation group the defender has found himself back on the sidelines, but this time, he says things are different.

Serious knee and shoulder troubles have led to long stints out of the game in the past, but the 24-year-old’s latest toe injury is only a minor setback. In fact, he’s hopeful of playing within a month.

Vickers-Willis was involved in an innocuous training incident last fortnight, and as he left the field in the arms of the trainers, there were initial fears of another season-ending injury.

“I was really excited to be back for my first main group session since I did my knee. It was just in a contested marking drill, which I’d done quite a bit of before,” he explained.

“I was with Maj (Majak Daw); he’s a big boy so he loves to push you off. He pushed me off, then I came back to kind of jump in and spoil and think I just landed on his foot.

“All the boys ran off and I was just standing there, signalled to one of the coaches and said, ‘this doesn’t feel right’.

“My toe just didn’t really feel like it was in the socket, which was an uncomfortable feeling.”

Thankfully, the injury was quickly diagnosed as turf-toe, but there were some nervous moments.

“A few of the boys were really concerned and said they were distracted at training think I’d done my knee again,” Vickers-Willis said.

“Now looking back at what could have happened … I saw a surgeon last week and he said if things went a little bit worse, it could have been surgery. You kind of look back and think, it might be a month or so off now, but it’s not too bad.

“Coming from such long-term injuries, knowing that I’ll be back out there with the boys in two, three or four weeks now, I’m really buoyed by that and really excited to get back out there as soon as I can.”

Now, the defender is keen to repay the faith from those around him.

“That’s what really motivates me to get back and play AFL again, is for them, the people who’ve really shown me the unwavering support throughout my career.

“The feeling of, I may not be able to because they might not be able to come into the rooms … but giving my family a hug after my first game; that’s what really what motivates me and drives me to get back. They’ve been massive.”

The 24-year-old began running on Tuesday, and is hopeful of returning to skills next week.