HOLBROOK captain Josh Jones knew something wasn't quite right before Saturday's match against Brock-Burrum.
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A couple of hours before the match he started to feel unwell.
But being a must-win clash to keep the Brookers' finals aspirations alive, Jones just hoped he would start feeling better before the first bounce.
"I woke up feeling fine but by 11am I started feeling a bit off and was vomiting," Jones said.
"I just thought it was my breakfast coming back up.
"I went out and tried to play but felt lethargic and fatigued and came off about 10 minutes into the game."
Jones was starting to feel that unwell he decided to head to hospital.
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"Once I came off, things went downhill quickly, so I went over to the Holbrook hospital," he said.
"I probably vomited three or four times before the game.
"Then after I came off another five or six times.
"They transferred me to the Albury Base Hospital
"It was just continuous vomiting on Saturday night before I got to see the doctor and the surgeon.
"I had a pretty bad fever as well and it just got progressively worse.
"When I finally got to see the doctor and surgeon they told me I was suffering from acute appendicitis.
"So I had my appendix removed."
Jones underwent surgery on Sunday and was released from hospital the following day.
"I'm really sore today and I've been told that I can't lift anything over 5kgs for five or six weeks," he said.
"So playing football again this season is a long shot.
"But if things go to plan and I can stay on top of things, I might be a slight chance if we can go deep into finals.
"But I definitely won't play again before finals."
Jones works in the fitness industry as a strength and conditioning coach.
"I'll probably be two weeks off work and I'm not allowed to drive for a few weeks as well," he said.
The classy midfielder said he was disappointed to miss out the Brookers' finals charge.
"We feel we are finding form at the right time of the season and have won seven of our last eight matches," he said.
"The win on the weekend was unreal and proves we mean business."