- Heath James retired at the age of 25 after playing just 18 games
- The Swans player’s career was brutal due to numerous injuries
- He says he now has trouble running around with his children
Former Sydney Swans star Heath James has opened up about the terrible toll football had on his body after his professional career was cut short by a host of shocking injuries.
Heath, the son of football great Max James, was called up to squad 28 in 1998 but unfortunately played just 18 games for the Swans during his seven seasons in Sydney.
James was devastated by at least eleven tears in his hamstrings before his knees also started to bother him.
The talented player was forced to retire at the age of 25 and says he now has a complicated relationship with the game.
“It would be hard to know if I would do it again, with how the body is feeling right now,” he shared News Corp.
‘My knees are broken and my body is just confused. I haven’t played that many games, but my body has been completely destroyed by playing football.
Former Sydney Swans star Heath James (pictured) has opened up about the shocking toll football has taken on his body
James says his knees are now shot and his body is ‘in a daze’
“My fingers don’t work anymore, I have a shoulder that pops up, I have scars from operations all over my knees.”
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 has all been positive, it’s just a shame that my body has let me down and that’s the negativity I have towards football these days.’
James’ friend and former teammate Jude Bolton remembers how bad his mate’s bad luck was at the time.
“His body just didn’t give him a chance,” 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 vividly remembers one of his buddy’s injuries.
James retired from the AFL at just 25 after a terrible series of injuries
‘He tore his patellar tendon one day in a children’s clinic. I had to call the club doctor and he said, ‘Where’s his kneecap?’ When I told him he said, ‘You should get Heath in, it sounds bad.’
Bolton said James was incredibly talented and could have gone anywhere.
“He was a great interception defender. When people ask me what kind of player he could have been, I think of Jeremy McGovern, who just floated through the pack and picked up contested points.”
‘It was heartbreaking to see it happen (his continued injury woes). That’s just the tough side of footy.’