- Heath James retired at 25 after playing just 18 games
- Swans player’s career was cruelled by host of injuries
- Says he now struggles to run around with his kids
Former Sydney Swans star Heath James has opened up about the awful toll playing football had on his body after his professional career was cut short by a host of shocking injuries.
The son of footy great Max James, Heath was drafted at pick 28 in 1998 but would sadly only go on to play just 18 games for the Swans during his seven seasons in Sydney.
James was devastated by at least 11 tears to his hamstrings before also enduring troubles with his knees.
The talented player was forced to retire at 25 and says he now has a complicated relationship with the game.
‘It would be hard to work out if I’d do it again with how the body’s feeling right now,’ he told News Corp.
‘My knees are shot and my body’s just buggered – I didn’t play that many games but my body’s completely ruined from footy.
‘My fingers are no good, I’ve got a shoulder that sticks up, I’ve got scars all over my knees from surgeries.’
James says he now struggles to play with his children because of the wear and tear on his body.
‘I wanted to be able to run around with my kids when I was 40, but I’m 44 now and I still can’t run around with them,’ he said.
‘My experience is all positive, it’s just unfortunate my body let me down and that’s the negativity I have towards footy these days.’
James’s friend and former teammate Jude Bolton recalls just how tough his mate’s run of bad luck was at the time.
‘His body just didn’t give him a go,’ Bolton told News Corp.
‘I was so proud of his willingness to keep going and get back on the field after so many hamstring injuries.’
Bolton remembers one of his mate’s injuries vividly.
‘He tore his patella tendon at a kids clinic one day. I had to call the club doctor and he said ‘where’s his kneecap?’ When I told him, he said, ‘you’ve got to bring Heath in, it sounds bad.’
Bolton said James was incredibly talented and could have gone anywhere.
‘He was a great intercept defender – when people ask me what sort of player he could’ve been I think of a Jeremy McGovern, just floating across the pack and taking contested marks.’
‘To watch it (his constant injury woes) happen was heartbreaking. That’s just the tough side of footy.’
