By David Nagel
This was no ordinary roar.
This was a cry that emanated from the very core of Cranbourne champion Marc Holt – 42 weeks of pent up emotion, of anger and anxiety, of opportunities missed, of frustration, of his deep love for football – a roar that reverberated around the sporting fields of the South East Football Netball League.
And just like that … the champ was back!
He was back doing what he loves most, and doing what he does best, kicking goals for his beloved Cranbourne Football Club.
The 31-year-old was celebrating his fifth of six goals kicked against Officer, a goal that stretched a 12-point three-quarter-time lead out to 18 points.
The star was swamped three minutes later when a signature contested mark resulted in his sixth for the afternoon, the 948th of his glittering career … the Eagles were home.
A broken left leg, suffered on 30 July last year, threatened to end his stellar football career for good.
“Heaps of times I thought I wouldn’t be back playing footy,” Holt said after the game.
“Because of the type of surgery, I’ve got a rod in my leg and not many people play a physical sport with those in. They have to stay in for 18 months, rods and screws, but I couldn’t wait any longer. It’s great to be back, it’s what I love and what I’ve always loved doing and I’ve hated not being able to do it.”
The Eagles’ skipper said he had reservations heading in.
“It felt like my first game again,” he said.
“I was worrying about my leg, worrying about my body, having to break through those first mental barriers was really important. Just making sure my leg was alright. I just did it the way I do it, went for the first one and had a crack.”
Ironically, it was a crack in his lower left leg that started a long a painful process. One that he thought he had overcome by Christmas but one that reared its ugly head again in the pre-season.
“Yeah, I didn’t know how bad it was when I did it,” he reflected.
“I thought I had just cracked the leg but I basically tore every ligament in my ankle. I started training in January, in a heap of pain for about a month, trying to run, just thinking it was teething problems.
“I was going to get a cortisone injection, had a scan through that process and that’s when they discovered the ligament damage. That was late February and I had to start a whole new rehab program again.”
Holt missed plenty because of the injury.
He missed playing footy with his mates, some of whom shared the pain of losing four consecutive grand finals before righting that wrong last year. Watching that triumph unfold was a bag of mixed emotions for the loyal Eagle.
“Personally it’s hard, of course, but I just wanted the club to win that premiership last year so everyone could enjoy the experience,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to go undefeated and win the premiership in 2011 and it was great to see the boys experience it last year. They got that feeling, unfortunately I didn’t play a part on the day but they made me feel a massive part of it. That’s just part of football isn’t it?
“Every pub story is different, and I’m lucky; I’m never going to be ungrateful enough to be upset that I missed out on that flag. I was so proud of the boys but when I drove off and I was alone the reality set in. It’s football, I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in so many good stories and last year wasn’t a great one. It’s shithouse what happened, but I’ll never complain about it.”
Holt said he had made contact with his 2011 premiership coach – now Officer mentor Doug Koop – prior to the match.
“There was a cheeky little phone call but he’s a great bloke and he’ll be just as rapt for me as anyone else; we’ve been through a lot together,” he said.
“Unfortunately it had to work out so well for me against his team.”
The goal-kicking whiz said he received great support through his tough times and praised one special person in particular.
“Definitely my wife Alicia,” he said.
“It was pretty terrible – the broken leg – and I had to be looked after a lot. There was nine or 10 days before the surgery when I was basically bed-ridden and couldn’t move so needed a lot of looking after. She was there, she did everything, she gritted her teeth and has done the Holt thing and just kept battling away.”
So is there unfinished business to be taken care of this year?
“There is, I see myself as a selfless person, but there is that little bit of a selfish side that is desperate to get another medal,” he said.
“My career won’t be validated by it but I just want to get that feeling again … it’s such a great feeling, it’s hard to describe.”
Just imagine the mighty roar!
