“After 15 weeks or so it was good to start playing again.”

After 15 long weeks, Zach Monkhorst finally made his return to football in the Development team’s win over Werribee on Saturday.

After breaking his ankle in the Hawks’ pre-season clash against Sandringham, Monkhorst was simply happy to get through his first game back unscathed.

“After 15 weeks or so it was good to start playing again.”

“I didn’t do anything in particular to get myself prepared. It was more trying to get my head around playing footy again and just hoping that the same thing wouldn’t happen twice.”

Monkhorst began playing football at the age of nine and it was spending time with his friends that motivated him to join a team.

“I played my junior footy at Woori Yallock Football Club which is about an hour from Box Hill in the Yarra Valley League.”

“I had a few friends go and play so I thought I would go hang out with my mates on the weekend and so I started playing footy.”

Now in his third season at the club, Monkhorst says it is the people that make being a part of the Box Hill Hawks so enjoyable.

“Box Hill is just a really good club to be at. There are so many friendly people – friendly staff, friendly coaches – everybody gets around you. Even coming back and playing my first game since breaking my leg, everybody has been wishing me good luck and got around me on the field which was really good.”

But there is one player at Box Hill in particular that Monkhorst looks to for guidance and inspiration for his football.

“I love how Sam Gibson goes about his footy so I kind of watch him play and try and go as hard as he does.”

When not playing footy, Monkhorst is currently studying.

“I’m studying a Bachelor of Justice at the University of Canberra. I study off-campus though so I’m out at Glen Waverley. Saves a lot of travel!”

“It’s been pretty good. I’m in my fourth year now so I’ve only got a couple of months to go and then I’m done.”

“I also work on job sites as a laborer whenever Uni allows but I prefer studying.”

However, footy is where Monkhorst’ passion lies and after successfully making his return on the weekend, there is one clear aim for the remainder of the season.

“The goal for this game was just to get through unscathed but looking forward I want to get back into some form and maintain a spot in the side. I think that’s an achievable goal.”

 

 

Photo: Jenny Owens Photography