Injured Cats defender Jackson Thurlow has spoken for the first time about the kidney laceration that has him laid up at home in Tasmania.

The 20-year-old suffered the painful and potentially life-threatening injury in a training session prior to Christmas.

Speaking to geelongcats.com.au from his family’s home in Launceston, Thurlow said he was shocked the innocuous incident caused the damage it did.

“Darcy Lang actually sent me the footage when I was in hospital and watching it there was really nothing in it.” Thurlow said.

“The movement I did I’ve done hundreds of times before, but it just happened that I copped a stray elbow in the wrong spot this time.”

Thinking he was winded, Thurlow sat down on the Simonds Stadium turf but when he was unable to stand up things got serious.

But it was the quick thinking of club doctor Drew Slimmon who immediately recognized something was amiss and took steps that ultimately meant Thurlow’s prognosis was a lot better than it could have otherwise been.

“After about a minute I started throwing up and luckily the doctors were right on the scene.”

“I was given a green whistle to deal with the pain but it wasn’t doing anything so they immediately took me for scans.”

When scans revealed the nasty extent of the damage, Thurlow’s immediate thoughts were not what you’d expect.

“When they said that the damage was a lacerated kidney I realised I wouldn’t be making my 12.40pm tee time for golf!”

Unlike teammate Tom Lonergan, who also suffered a lacerated kidney which was so badly damaged it was removed, Thurlow avoided surgery but not a lay up in hospital.

“Basically, as I understand it, I suffered a tear of the outer part of the kidney.”

“With no need for surgery I’ve been told to rest up and wait for the blood to clot around the laceration and heal itself.”

But despite avoiding surgery, Lonergan knew all too well what Thurlow would be going through and immediately offered his support.

“Doms (Lonergan) sent me a text through and just said if I have any questions about it to ask him.”

“Once I get back to Geelong, I think I’ll sit down with him and have a good chat.”

With a couple of weeks rest in Tasmania under his belt, Thurlow hopes to return to Geelong in the next week or so.

“It’s good being home with the family but I’m ready to get back now.”

“I feel alright doing normal day to day activities but not yet the exertion of being a footballer.

“I have to be careful at the moment because when I push myself I can get a bit sore.”

And after performing outstandingly in the preseason up until the unfortunate injury, Thurlow is confident the setback won’t derail his 2015 season.

“My preseason was going really well early.” Thurlow said.

“I’m viewing this as a minor hiccup and when I’m cleared to return to training it will be full steam ahead." 

Thurlow brought his career tally of AFL games to 10 in 2014 after playing the final five games of the season including the Cats two finals.