North Melbourne midfielder Ben Jacobs’ future in the game remains unclear, as he struggles to find an answer as to why he has been unable to play football since the Kangaroos’ round 16 win over Gold Coast in 2018.
Jacobs was injured in a tackle against Brisbane in round 11 last season and played the next week against Geelong despite suffering whiplash and experiencing neck pain.
The Kangaroos' tagger then missed a month of football before returning for the round 16 clash with the Suns, but hasn’t played since.
Jacobs told nmfc.com.au that he had felt “off” after the tackle in round 11.
“I sat down with the doctors the Monday of the week leading into the bye (after the round 12 game against Geelong), and that’s when things weren’t really adding up and I was getting worse,” Jacobs said.
“The worst part about it was I didn’t know what was going on, and I still don’t.”
The 27-year-old says he cannot pinpoint the root cause of the issue.
“I had none of these symptoms before I hit my head, so since then it has been a combination of things," Jacobs added.
“I have a neck injury … I have just had my head knocked on the ground … whether that has flared up the jaw, the nerves in the head, the neck … it is the perfect storm type of thing.
“To say it is one thing, we can’t be sure. I can’t rule anything out.”
Jacobs’ current contract ties him to the club until the end of the 2020 season and is confident he will return to football.
“I feel like a can pick it up when I am healthy again,” he said.
“My body hasn’t been battered and bruised too much … I feel like I have plenty to give.”