Kolora-Noorat and GWV Rebels under 16s footballer Sam Kenna breaks ankle in practice game

But the emerging Greater Western Victorian Rebels under 16 footballer, who broke his ankle in two places in a practice match, is now hopeful he will play again in 2019.

Kenna, 15, is recovering at his Glenormiston North home after surgery to repair two breaks in his left leg.

Early signs point to a 12-week recovery period, although his long-term future is at the forefront of his mind and he is wary of returning to the field underdone.

"It is the biggest injury I've had. I will just have to do all the rehab and jump in the pool a lot as soon as I can jump out of this cast and do a lot of running and bike riding," Kenna said.

The versatile 192-centimetre prospect, whose preferred position is ruck, was the only Warrnambool and District league player picked in the Rebels' under 16 team.

He was the WDFNL's rising star recipient in 2018 and played in Kolora-Noorat's under-17.5 premiership.

Those achievements piqued the Rebels' interest.

He had hoped to play in their three under-16 carnival matches and push his case for a spot in their 2020 NAB League under-18 intake.

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Kenna said his injury, which he sustained during a scratch match against Geelong Falcons, was a case of bad luck.

"There was a kick out of full-back and I was leading for it," he said.

"I went up and took the mark and I landed fine on my leg and then the fella behind me stood on my ankle and it just gave way.

"I knew it wasn't a sprain but I'd never had a break before so I didn't know it was going to be that bad.

"I tried to stand up and limp off but went back down and got stretchered.

"The game was at Mars Stadium in Ballarat so I just went down into the rooms, they strapped me up a bit and put me in a moon boot and Dad (James) took me to the base hospital.

"I was X-rayed at 12pm and then had surgery about 5pm."

Kenna is spending two weeks in a bandaged cast, will be in a full cast for between four and six weeks and will finish his recovery in a moon boot.

"I was very sad it happened. It was only the start of it too. The carnival started this week," he said.

Kenna can play as a key forward or defender but wants to establish himself as an agile ruckman when he returns.

"I prefer ruck because it's easier because you're supposed to be following the ball and around it, trying to do what you can," he said.

"I like the tap work and I like to get lots of handballs off the ground, clean hands, and get to the midfielders to send it up the ground."

The Camperdown Mercy Regional College student plans to "play as high a level as I can and then come back and play for the Power when I am done".

Kolora-Noorat will start its season against Dennington at home on Saturday.

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