Despite rupturing three ligaments in his knee – the ACL, PCL, and LCL – and fracturing his leg with nerve damage, his journey wasn’t over. The injury was so severe that the SANFL under-18 game between North Adelaide and Glenelg was halted. It took an ambulance over 90 minutes to reach Prospect Oval, by which time the small forward had inhaled two green whistles and was asking for a third.
This happened nearly two years ago.
Last Wednesday, the Western Bulldogs selected the 172cm pressure forward at pick No. 8 in the AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, marking a remarkable rise that defied expert predictions.
“One of the first things the surgeon said to me was ‘you may not play again’. That was a real possibility,” Rypstra told AFL.com.au ahead of his first VFL game for Footscray. “It all depended on how the rehab went, and it went really well. I had great specialists and a physio team helping me get back to footy.”
The newest Bulldog is on the board 🎯
Kelsey Rypstra gets a much-needed goal for the home side.
🎥: Watch the Smithy’s VFL live and free on the AFL website and AFL Live Official App: https://t.co/3V9lTkSGTM pic.twitter.com/7kiedOXrJC
— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) June 7, 2024
The 20-year-old never got overwhelmed by the daunting task of healing his knee. Despite the odds and being overlooked by some recruiters, he persevered, returning to play in March after over 18 months. Rypstra started in North Adelaide’s reserves but quickly moved to the league team. Coach Jacob Surjan valued him highly, and a standout performance against Sturt put him back on recruiters’ radar.
“I’ve always had a strong mindset,” Rypstra said. “If you can get back to playing footy, that’s a bonus. I focused on the rehab and getting back to what I love.”
Before the mid-season draft, the Bulldogs interviewed Rypstra, with interest from Brisbane and Essendon also noted. However, concerns about his medical history persisted. Brisbane opted for a safer pick due to their own ACL injuries, while Rypstra hoped for a breakthrough during training at Prospect.
When the Bulldogs saw Rypstra’s impressive GPS data, they recognized his work rate, akin to Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore. With the recent medical retirement of Aiden O’Driscoll, they needed someone with Rypstra’s aerobic ability. His six-month contract minimized the risk of recruiting someone with his injury history, highlighting the advantage of the mid-season draft.
Rypstra, who models his game on Tom Papley and Kysaiah Pickett, is now eager to make an impact. He debuted with a goal for Footscray in the VFL and, despite being new to Victoria, has settled in with James Harmes and his wife Corey.
“I feel like I can get a gig. I need to show what I can do at VFL level and hopefully that can lead to AFL level,” he said. “The adversity has prepared me mentally and physically for hopefully a long career in the AFL.”
Rypstra wasn’t supposed to be here, but now he’s ready to prove why he belongs.
