It was hit harder than what ruptured his’ AC joint. For the courageous and enduring Daniel Cross, being told by Western Bulldogs medical staff that his season was over hurt more than the injury itself.

“I hate missing a training session let alone missing a game so the realisation that my season was finished on the night hit home pretty hard,” the veteran midfielder said.
 
“I ruptured the AC joint and ruptured two ligaments that hold my collar bone down as well, so no one is getting any younger in this game and to do a full pre-season really sets you up for the year.

See what Daniel Cross has to say on the world class facilities at Victoria University on the media player above.
 
“So that is what my aim will be and hopefully I will be ready to go by round one.”
 
Having full access to world class exercise science facilities through the Western Bulldogs’ strategic partnership with Victoria University, Cross is able to pour his energy into his rehabilitation program with full confidence that he is inching closer to joining the main group for day one of pre-season.
 
“Victoria University’s been great, you know, ever since we have been coming here early 2000s with the pool facilities and the gym upstairs,” he said.
 
“Definitely with my rehab being able to use world class facilities is certainly going to go a long way to getting me prepared for the start of the season.
 
“We have VU cadets that come down season long do our GPS data and things like that that are in the gym with us. I will be working closely with those guys as well.
 
“The relationship that we have with them is certainly key to our success hopefully in the future.”
 
Having graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Exercise Science, Cross is even more familiar with the facilities and benefits of the partnership.