Shaw, who underwent a LARS reconstruction on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament late last season, is making good progress this pre-season and is already participating in some skill-based drills with the main training group.
Speaking to SwansTV about his rehab program, Shaw said he couldn’t be happier with his decision to undergo LARS surgery instead of a traditional reconstruction.
“The knee is feeling great,” Shaw told SwansTV.
“I did my knee ten years ago and I had the traditional surgery and I missed 12 months, but if I did my knee during the season and then had LARS, I could be back by the end of the year.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the docs and the physios for getting me back this quick.
“You pretty much walk straight out of hospital and there’s no real recovery period and you get straight into it.
“There’s swelling for a couple of weeks, but you just push through that kind of stuff and it’s just amazing.”
Shaw, who suffered the injury against Geelong in round 22 last year, is rapt to be back at training and thankful he hasn’t encountered any setbacks throughout his recovery process.
“It’s been a long time (since the injury), although not as long as some, but at my age to get back out onto the track is really exciting,” he said.
“I could have been training two months ago but the docs wanted to be really cautious and it’s a credit to them because it’s been a really good preparation for me.
“I’ve had no hiccups – touch wood – and it’s … been really smooth.”
Shaw is not the only ‘man from LARS’ this pre-season, with fellow defender Alex Johnson also on the rehab trail following a similar procedure.
Shaw said Johnson, who underwent an unsuccessful traditional reconstruction earlier in the year, had also recovered well from his latest surgery and was working hard to get back after almost 12 months out of the game.
“It’s been tough for AJ; obviously he’s had the two surgeries six months apart, but he’s pushing really hard and he’s a tough kid,” Shaw said.
“We’ve seen what he can do on the park when he’s playing, so you can imagine what he’s like off the field.
“He’s really hard-nosed and committed to what he wants to do and he’s working as hard as anyone to get back onto the track.
“Sometimes recovery takes a bit longer for other people, but we know AJ will be back and back for round one hopefully.”
Shaw added that both he and Johnson had benefitted from Malceski’s advice, with the Swans’ number nine having had two LARS reconstructions in his career.
“My best mate Nick (Malceski) has done three knees and has had two LARS … so he’s given us a few pointers,” he said.
Shaw and Johnson are just two of the Swans’ rehab group who are slowly working their way back to fitness this pre-season, with Adam Goodes, Mike Pyke, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Kurt Tippett, Sam Reid and Tommy Walsh all at different stages.
Shaw said it was going to be good to see that group shrink as the pre-season rolls on and the regular season gets closer.
“There have probably been a few too many in rehab over the off-season but we’re all getting better at the right time, so it’s really positive for the club,” he said.
“The more people we have out on the track, the more we push the ones who are in the side and it makes everyone better, so all the way from rehab to the top it’s been really good.”
Rhyce Shaw and Sam Reid run laps at Lakeside Oval late last week
