The Interview: Mark Ricciuto (Page 2)
Let’s look back at the career. The Crows won the flag in 1997, with that incredible run through September, but you were injured. That must have been such a bitter pill…
I started getting groin trouble in the middle of the year. I kept playing and it kept getting worse. Before the first final, I tried to get off the lounge room floor and I couldn’t even get up. I had two hernia problems at the same time. I was in tears. I knew right then I had to get the operation.
I came out of hospital on prelim final day, on a wheelchair. That was the day we came from seven goals down to beat the Western Bulldogs.
Grand final day, wow, what an emotional roller coaster. I didn’t know whether I wanted the boys to win and I’d miss out, or whether I wanted the boys to lose and I wouldn’t miss out. Really mixed emotions. But it was a great feeling afterwards.
Plenty of other guys missed out as well. Tony Modra was leading goal kicker and All-Australian that year.
When you know there’s that small part of you that wants your teammates to lose, do you get dirty on yourself for letting yourself feel that way?
You know it’s not right. But you also know you can’t help it. I certainly wasn’t cheering for St.Kilda. Every year somebody had to go through it. Mark Blake from Geelong a perfect example.
With that disappointment, 1998 would have been phenomenal…
Myself and Peter Vardy, who also missed that 97 win, led the celebrations for the next month!
Page 2
| > | The interview: Anthony Mundine |
| > | The interview: Mark Ricciuto |
| > | The interview: Tadhg Kennelly |
| > | The interview: Craig Bellamy |
| > | The interview: Brian Waldron |
| > | The interview: Mark Geyer |
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