Damage to the ligament often results in months of rehabilitation and can result in the injured person missing up to and sometimes more than 12 months of competitive sport.

Brothers Ash and Cody Driscoll have been through a lot together – and now they will go through an experience of a different kind.

The Driscoll boys played together at Navarre for years, dominating the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League with four consecutive premierships between 2013 and 2016.

In an effort to try something new and more competitive, 22-year-old Cody made the move to Wimmera Football League club the Stawell Warriors in the most recent off-season.

In a cruel twist of fate, Cody partially tore his ACL after hyper extending his knee in a practice match in his first appearance for his new club.

Just weeks later when Navarre kicked off their season in a grand final rematch against Carisbrook, Ash would suffer a similar fate, snapping his ACL in the first quarter of that match.

“You feel you’re going alright. One minute you kick a goal and the next you get struck down and you are helpless on the sidelines,” Ash said.

“Same as Ash, just when I started to get the feel for the game and settle in it happened,” Cody said.

The immediate process of rehabilitation was quite different for the two brothers. 

Ash underwent surgery while Cody endured six weeks of a brace, seeing his knee scar and allow him to avoid surgery.

Already close, Ash said he believes the unfortunate situation both he and his brother are in will bring the two even closer.

“Playing at different clubs was never going to draw us apart but in some respect it will be easier that we are going through the same thing at the same time,” he said.

“It is really unfortunate for us both but it is also a bit of an opportunity.”

The Driscoll brothers will continue to be involved at their respective clubs this season as they work hard in their rehabilitation.

“Things will get frustrating at times but I will keep working hard,” Cody said.

 Ash said: “I’ll be on the bench helping Kyle Hendy. We are definitely both not out of it. We will still feel as part of our teams.”

The long road to recovery is one both brothers wish they never had to endure. They strive to return to football as soon as they can, with a new appreciation of the game with them.

“You really have to play every game like it is your last because you never know what is around the corner," Ash said.