KHAN Haretuku may have just notched his 50th VFL game, but he’s got enough stories for a player with four times his career record.
Haretuku, born in Sydney, but spent his formative years in New Zealand, has certainly experienced more than most players his age.
With next to no AFL background, Haretuku was a late convert to Aussie Rules, but he made an immediate impact. He represented NSW/ACT at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championship.
St Kilda rookie listed him then de-listed him a couple of years later with less than a handful of VFL senior games to his credit.
Although despondent, Haretuku headed to Frankston in a bid to salvage an AFL career that never really gained any traction.
Last year, Haretuku built on a promising 2011 season to gain VFL State representation, as well as gaining a place in the VFL Team of the Year. And, for good measure, he represented New Zealand against the AFL/AIS team in New Zealand.
It earned him an invite to the AFL State Combine testing and although nothing eventuated from an AFL perspective, Haretuku had much to look forward to in season 2013.
Little did he know the cards he would be dealt. He didn’t play his first senior game until the start of June. What happened?
Well, here’s another excerpt from a never-ending story book.
Haretuku was diagnosed with hamstring tendonitis, which usually relates to over use.
“There may have been a weakness in my glutes or hamstring. It happens over time, an over-use injury,” Haretuku said.
“It was frustrating. I was pretty much able to do everything bar sprint and in footy it’s pretty important to sprint.
“It was the only thing I couldn’t do and that was the frustrating part.”
For the first four weeks Haretuku couldn’t do anything, but rest. He could swim, but wasn’t able to jump on a stationary bike or walk up hills.
Slowly, Haretuku progressed to continuous running, building up to 400 and 800 metres then decreasing the distance, but increasing the intensity.
Haretuku would run over 200, 100 and 60 metres and then he embarked on shock wave therapy.
“The sports doctor explained it to me like a little jack hammer hitting the inflamed area. They wanted to induce an inflammatory response,” he said.
“It was like two steps forward, one step back. They wanted to inflame it because it promotes healing.
“I found it pretty interesting, but more important it got me back on the park pretty quick after that.”
Three weeks after he started the shock wave treatment, Haretuku played his first match of the season in the Dolphin’s Development League team.
The next week Haretuku was back in Frankston’s senior team and not long after he kicked six goals against the Northern Blues.
Khan Haretuku hopes that will spin off another, more favourable chapter.
Last Modified on 11/07/2013 15:28