AS soon as he felt his right knee go again, Daniel Iudica knew his career was done.
At just 26, the Robinvale Euston weapon tore his ACL for the third time back in April against Wentworth, and the realisation that his body had taken too much punishment had settled in.
Since bursting on to the scene as a teenager during the all-conquering Eagles’ undefeated premiership season in 2010, Iudica has played some scintillating football, as well as copping some awful body blows. In addition to having injured his knee thrice – a dislocated elbow, broken ribs and a punctured lung also count among ailments he’s received.
While he should now be hitting his footballing peak, he has instead had to come to terms with only watching Robinvale Euston from the sidelines.
Iudica has other priorities coming up any way, with he and wife Elizabeth expecting their first child, a son, in the coming months.
The exciting utility said his doctor advised him against continuing to play.
“I got my scans back for a ruptured ACL, but I knew what it was as soon as I went down,” he said.
“Second-round, first quarter in the forward line I went up for mark and as I landed it just popped out and that was it.
“I’ve copped a bit of a hiding (with injuries). They reckon I’ve got arthritis and by the time I’m 50 I’ll need to get a replacement.
“I was hoping for one more season. I think a few of us boys are in the same boat down at Robinvale but it just wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”
Iudica broke into the all-conquering Robinvale side of 2010 as a 15-year-old and won a premiership in his first season at 16.
In the decade since he has played 125 senior games, 76 at John James Oval and 49 for Portarlington in the Bellarine Football League, where he won a best and fairest. He was also a member of of the Bendigo Pioneers in 2011, playing alongside future AFL players including Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide), Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs and Essendon) and Mildura’s Sam Kerridge (Adelaide and Carlton).
An explosive player who had the innate ability to break games open in the midfield or forward half, Iudica hoped to get one more flag under his belt for Robinvale Euston.
“It would have been good to have one more (flag), but it wasn’t meant to be,” he said.
“We’ve had a bit of a bad run with a few boys injured this year, but on the plus side it means some of the younger kids get a run, so hopefully in a couple years down the track they can continue playing some good footy together.
“The premiership was definitely a highlight. I was pretty lucky to be a part of a side that good. Being a young kid they looked after me. We’ve got our reunion coming up which is exciting.
“Rocking up to training they would always lead by example. They always had my back, so I wasn’t worried about being pushed around.”
While he unsure about his future in football, Iudica will continue to work on his family’s block in Monak, and start a family of his own.
“When they grow up I still want to be able to kick the footy and play with them,” he said.
“I go to all the games and catch up with the boys but at the moment I’ve just got other things I’ve got to work on.
“Touch wood it’s been good, haven’t had too many problems at this stage but it will just be wear and tear at this time.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I always did think about the coaching side of things but it’s still too early to tell at the moment.”
Whatever happens, the SFNL is all the poorer for not having a fit Iudica taking the field.
