Delve into the den
The Brisbane Lions have produced a behind-the-scenes documentary on their pre-season
BRENT Staker looks distraught, head in hands, as he sits in the hospital waiting room ready to undergo a full knee reconstruction that will cost him 12 months on the sidelines.
It's the second knee surgery in less than a year for the Brisbane Lions utility after the revolutionary LARS procedure failed just five matches into his 2011 comeback.
After his mum gives him a kiss goodbye and sends him on his way, Staker is left to ponder what lies ahead.
"There's a little bit of angst that can sometimes be in the back of your mind," he says.
"The thing I'm thinking about the most is just the rehab and how I'm going to deal with that. I'm one of those people that doesn't like people doing things for me, but I'll have to suck it up."
The exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Staker's operation is a feature of the Brisbane Lions' documentary Into the Lions Den that will screen nationally on Saturday ahead of their round one match against Melbourne.
Created by the club, the one-hour documentary is a look into the Lions' inner sanctum in the build up to the season.
Staker's operation captures the raw emotion of a player dealing with the reality of another year out of the game.
"Once you're not playing footy you do realise how much you love playing," he says.
"Sitting on the sidelines most of last year and all of this year is going to be a good test of character. The hardest thing about not playing footy is not achieving your goals."
Captain Jonathan Brown talks candidly about his series of facial injuries, the latest of which has him missing the first two matches of 2012.
There's vision of a pre-season training camp on the Sunshine Coast, chats with the club's rookies and off-season buys, a look at the physical performance department, and Daniel Merrett's tour of his favourite spots in Brisbane.
The show will screen on 7mate on Saturday at the following times: Brisbane 11.30am, Sydney noon, Melbourne 2pm, Adelaide 1.30pm and Perth 2.30pm.
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
