Richmond defender Dylan Grimes has only managed 86 games since arriving at Tigerland in 2010, with hamstring injuries cruelling his first fours years at the club.
Grimes only featured in 26 games across his opening four seasons, with the 25-year-old suggesting he had done seven or eight hamstring injuries over that time period.
Grimes set off for Germany in 2012 and was injected with a calf's blood extract among other things to finally get his hamstrings under control, but only months later, Grimes had suffered the same injury once again - this time badly enough to require surgery - and his career was at the crossroads.
It led the defender to a pretty dark place, and Grimes told the Sunday Herald Sun during the week of an email he sent to Wayne Campbell after one particular injury.
“Not many people know this but I sent Wayne Campbell an email when I found out I was getting surgery again,’’ he said.
“I almost broke down and I said to him in the email I was one hamstring away from giving up footy and that I wasn’t sure how I would get through the next six months of rehab.
“I told him how much I was doubting myself. Wayne walked up to me the next day and put his arm around me and said I promise you everything will be OK.
“He was right and I have never had a serious hamstring injury again.”
Since the 2014 season began, Grimes has missed just 13 home and away matches from a possible 73, which showcases just how important he is to Damien Hardwick's side.
As for the hamstring injuries, while he hasn't suffered a tear since that email to Campbell, he still remembers the feeling.
“It sounds funny, but it literally feels like tearing muscle, tearing flesh,’’ he said.
“In some ways its like when you get a really good hit on your funny bone and there is this tingling. There is that shock of pain that hits you and then there is the aftermath with all the bleeding and recovery that goes with it.
“There are different grades and more severe ones, but instantly you know what has happened.
“You know it’s five-weeks plus sidelined and there are times when you just throw your hands up in the air, you feel like there is absolutely nothing more you can do."