Jake Sharp comes through his first Myrtleford game for almost 11 months

Sharp needed a fourth knee reconstruction last winter after tearing his ACL in Myrtleford's round 10 clash with Corowa-Rutherglen.

The 28-year-old was ready to retire at that stage but a conversation with wife Emma changed his mind.

And Sharp was back on the field for the first time in almost 11 months on Saturday, playing the first half for the Saints' reserves against Wodonga and coming through unscathed.

"I was pretty done," Sharp admitted.

"I just thought I couldn't put my family and friends through that again.

"But it was a moment with my wife where I was pretty down in the dumps, I'd just got out of the shower and she came in, hugged me and she said 'you're playing again.'

"From that point on, once I had her backing, I never committed to playing but I did my rehab like I wanted to.

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"I've had a lot of goes at rehab but I'm pretty strong in that area and think that I can come back and have an impact.

"It's just a part of my life that I enjoy and love so much and I'm just not quite ready to give it up yet."

The former Werribee man played 20 games in his first season back at Myrtleford but has only managed nine senior appearances this side of the pandemic.

"There was a fair bit of clarity (after that chat with Emma)," Sharp said.

"Most people listen to what their wife says!

"I even remember ringing Mum after the surgeon said 'you've done really well and you can get back to it' and she threw a couple of hard questions at me but they just want to see me happy - and playing footy makes me happy.

"I still love the game; probably not so much pulling up sore on Sundays and losing but I love what it's brought me and I love what it'll bring my family and kids.

"Being around football clubs is something I really appreciate and don't take for granted."

Sharp will be considered for senior selection ahead of Myrtleford's home game against Yarrawonga on Saturday.

"He's the heart and soul of the football-netball club," coach Craig Millar said.

"He puts a lot of time and effort into, he puts a lot of time and effort into his preparation to be able to get back and play and we can't wait for him to get back out on the park.

"Whether that's next week or the week after, we'll work through that during the week, see how he recovers, but the way all the players and spectators lined up for him, because he just works so much.

"He puts everything into everything that he does and I wish him all the best when he gets back to play.

"His resilience is on a level I don't think I've ever seen.

"To be knocked down as many times as he has and his ability to want to get back up...

"The work he does during the week when no-one can see is extraordinary and what he does is he takes others with him.

"We've got a young group and they see just in his rehab and recovery what he's doing and they want to go and do it too, to be able to prepare to play.

"Today was a chance to get back out and play after a fairly extensive lay-off and we look forward to his leadership and guidance when he's available to come back in."

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