You know you've done a bad injury when the video technician decides to delete the audio to avoid traumatising people even further.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Kookaburras defender Matthew Dawson is thanking his lucky stars after being named for the upcoming Commonwealth Games just three weeks after suffering a horrific eye injury.
Dawson, who plays with Norths in the Hunter Coast Premier Hockey League, was in danger of losing vision in his left eye after being struck by a hockey stick in a freak training accident. The 23-year-old was in so much pain, his screams sent shockwaves through the people present.
"It was pretty painful. I've never felt anything like it," Dawson said.
"I got sent the footage of the incident. But the video guy deleted the sound off it.
"Apparently the screams were pretty loud. I was pretty lucky not to burst an eyeball."
Dawson's left eye has only just started to open up again, and he's expected to make a full recovery.
The Kookaburras' first game on the Gold Coast is just three weeks away, but Dawson is confident he'll be more than ready by then.
First, he'll need to pass a yet-to-be-defined hockey test to prove his eye is ready for action.
If he passes that, Dawson is set to be the coolest kid at the Commonwealth Games courtesy of the streamlined glasses he must now wear to protect his eye.
"The surgeon told me I have to wear them for the next six months to protect the eye," the Rio Olympian said.
"I guess it's different. But a few of the boys at training this morning said they looked pretty good. That's always nice to hear some positive reinforcement."
Dawson was named on Friday as part of an 18-man squad striving for the Kookaburras’ sixth-straight Commonwealth Games gold.
He has 98 international caps and could notch up the ton during his maiden Commonwealth Games. Australia meet Scotland, Canada and New Zealand in the preliminary rounds from April 8.
Meanwhile, round two of the Hunter Coast Premier Hockey League has Souths pitted against University at Newcastle International Hockey Centre on Sunday (1:30pm).
Also on Sunday and The Entrance host Wests (1:30pm) while Maitland are at home to Norths (4pm). Gosford has the bye.
In Saturday’s second round of the Newcastle District Women’s Hockey Association Premier League at Broadmeadow and Oxfords meet University (1:45pm), Tigers tackle Erina (3pm) while Regals battle it out with Gosford (4:15pm). Souths travel to meet Avoca (2:15pm).
